Compare towns

Griswold vs Derby vs Putnam

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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.

MeasureGriswoldDerbyPutnam
People
Population
11,530
12,487Highest
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
Griswold and Derby 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%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
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%
21.1%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Derby 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
$79,500±$11kHighest
17% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Derby and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42kHighest
25% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
30% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Derby 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%
10.8%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Derby and Griswold 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 #118 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Griswold School District Derby School District Putnam School District
High school in town Griswold High School Derby High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
9.7
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.