Compare towns
Hampton vs Preston vs Putnam vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Hampton | Preston | Putnam | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
4,821 |
9,292Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 34% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Preston 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Preston School District | Putnam School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.