Compare towns
Middlefield vs Sprague vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Sprague has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Middlefield | Sprague | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243 |
2,962Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Sprague School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| 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.