What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Groton
People
Population	7,120Lowest	9,490Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest CT: +0.9%	-9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average	39±3.7Lowest 5% below CT
	Putnam and Groton 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%	15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Putnam and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Groton 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%	38.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1%	4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT	$79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT
	Groton 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±$13kLowest 33% below CT	$306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT	$1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT
	Groton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,564Lowest 46% below CT	$4,411Highest 34% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6%	46.5%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Groton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest CT: 10%	18.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below CT	18 minLowest 34% below CT
Work from home	6.7%±2.7Highest CT: 16%	4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Putnam and Groton 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	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.