Compare towns
Preston vs Suffield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Preston | Suffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Suffield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Suffield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.