Compare towns
Franklin vs Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Franklin | Bethlehem | Putnam | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,423 |
9,292 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 41% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.