Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Derby | Putnam | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Highest |
7,120Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.