Compare towns

Putnam vs Union 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Brooklyn has the most people working from home (10.7%).

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.

MeasurePutnamUnionBrooklyn
People
Population
7,120
944Lowest
8,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
Union and Brooklyn 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%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn 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%
24.5%±2.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
Brooklyn and Union 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
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
Brooklyn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$330,400±$26kHighest
10% below CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
Union and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$43Highest
23% below CT
—
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Putnam and Brooklyn 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
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
Union 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%
5.7%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±3.7
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
Brooklyn and Union 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 — #113 of 149 in CT
School district — Union School District 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.