Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Pomfret has the most homeowners (80.5%).
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 | Putnam | Ayer | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
8,645Highest |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.