Compare towns
Putnam vs Orange vs Brooklyn
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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Orange | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
14,315Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Brooklyn 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Brooklyn 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Brooklyn 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.