Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin vs North Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Berlin | North Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
20,361Highest |
3,221Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT |
| Berlin 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin 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 CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$71,976±$26k 25% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$267,300±$59k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,146±$152Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$3,893 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
22 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
12.1%±5.3 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and North Canaan 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #91 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Berlin School District | North Canaan School District |
| High school in town | — | Berlin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.