Compare towns
Durham vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Durham | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.