Compare towns
Norwich vs Chaplin vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
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 | Norwich | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.