Compare towns
Guilford vs Putnam vs Branford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Branford has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Guilford | Putnam | Branford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,108 |
9,292Lowest |
28,217Highest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT |
| Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 26.6%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Branford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,816±$11kHighest 44% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$105,225±$7k 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$401,200±$21k 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,565±$111 5% above CT |
| Guilford and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744Highest 32% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,575 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Branford 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #94 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Putnam School District | Branford School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | Putnam High School | Branford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.0 |
| 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.