Compare towns
Putnam vs Union vs Chaplin
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 expensive homes ($330k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| 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 |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Union 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Chaplin 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Chaplin 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 |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.