Compare towns
North Haven vs Putnam vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | North Haven | Putnam | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,336 |
9,292Lowest |
44,362Highest |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
| North Haven and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,374±$84 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,964Highest 5% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
| North Haven and Wallingford 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 | #84 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District | Putnam School District | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | North Haven High School | Putnam High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.5 |
| 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.