Compare towns
Pomfret vs Shirley vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Putnam has the most affordable 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 | Pomfret | Shirley | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,317Lowest |
6,976 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.