Compare towns
Putnam vs Gardner vs Danielson
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Gardner | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
21,148Highest |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Gardner 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Gardner 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 19% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Danielson and Putnam 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. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.