Compare towns
Putnam vs Derby vs Danielson vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Danielson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Derby | Danielson | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
12,487Highest |
4,209Lowest |
9,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
-4.5% CT: +0.9% |
+2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7k 32% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT |
| Groton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,250±$98 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
$4,411 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53% CT: 66.5% |
45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3 CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | — | Derby School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.