Compare towns
Nelson vs Pomfret vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Nelson | Pomfret | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
4,317 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nelson School District | Pomfret 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 |
U.S. 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.