What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

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.

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

Measure	North Canaan	Putnam
People
Population	3,221Lowest	9,292Highest
Median age	35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	North Canaan and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,976±$26kHighest 25% below CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
	North Canaan and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$59kLowest 27% below CT	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,146±$152Lowest 23% below CT	$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,893Highest 41% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Putnam and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest CT: 10%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961 6 yrs older than CT	1961 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 15% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	12.1%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	North Canaan 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	#91 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	North Canaan School District	Putnam School District
High school 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

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.