Compare towns
Durham vs Putnam vs Guilford
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 highest household income ($159k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($516k 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 | Durham | Putnam | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
22,108Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Guilford 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
| Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Durham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
11.8Highest |
| 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.