Compare towns
Lisbon vs Putnam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Lisbon | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211 |
9,292Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26kHighest 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044 39% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school 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 |
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.