What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).

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	Norwich	Putnam
People
Population	39,973Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.1%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Norwich and Putnam 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	$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT
	Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
	Norwich and Putnam 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	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest 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%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Putnam and Norwich 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	Putnam School District
High school in town	Norwich Free Academy	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.5Lowest
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.