Compare towns
Durham vs Putnam vs Middlebury
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Middlebury has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
9,292Highest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Durham and Middlebury 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury 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% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
| Durham and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% 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 | $7,998 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
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| 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.