Compare towns

Griswold vs Colebrook vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureGriswoldColebrookPutnam
People
Population
11,530Highest
1,494Lowest
9,292
Median age
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
Colebrook and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Colebrook and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$1,333±$626Highest
10% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Colebrook and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
30% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
9%±3.6Highest
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 149 in CT — #128 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Colebrook School District Putnam School District
High school in town Griswold High School None in town Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
—
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.