Compare towns
New Britain vs Putnam vs Bridgeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Britain has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% 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 | New Britain | Putnam | Bridgeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 74,223 |
9,292Lowest |
149,153Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
36.7±0.7 11% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±0.8 CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±0.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
23.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT |
$58,685±$2k 39% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT |
| Bridgeport and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$45 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,846 12% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,496Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 8%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±1Lowest 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 | #148 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District |
| High school in town | New Britain High School | Putnam High School | Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
9.5Lowest |
18.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.