Compare towns
New Haven vs Putnam vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 Haven | Putnam | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 134,349Highest |
9,292 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Brooklyn and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430Highest 3% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| New Haven and Brooklyn 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Putnam School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.