Compare towns
Putnam vs Townsend vs Danielson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Townsend | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
9,100Highest |
4,209Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.

