Compare towns
Putnam vs Putnam vs Stafford
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).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
Stafford has the most homeowners (79.5%).
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 | Putnam | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
9,292 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam 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 |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Putnam and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
| Putnam 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 |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stafford and Putnam 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
7.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stafford and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.