Compare towns
Putnam vs Sandy Hook vs Putnam
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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Sandy Hook | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
9,863Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.