What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Britain has the most renters (54.9% rent).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Britain	Putnam
People
Population	74,223Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Britain and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	20%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$45Highest 16% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,846Highest 12% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	18.1%Highest CT: 10%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Putnam and New Britain 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	#149 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council	Putnam School District
High school in town	New Britain High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.