Compare towns

Putnam vs Suffield vs Willimantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasurePutnamSuffieldWillimantic
People
Population
7,120Lowest
15,702
18,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Suffield 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%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic 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%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Suffield 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%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,511±$7k
32% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,100±$13k
33% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$43
23% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
6.7%±2.7
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT —
School district — Suffield School District —
High school in town — Suffield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9
—
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.