Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Bloomfield
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Bloomfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Bloomfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
21,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$286,900±$11kHighest 22% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield and Derby 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 | #139 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
10.1Highest |
| 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.