Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Brooklyn
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Highest |
9,292 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Brooklyn 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 |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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 | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| 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.