Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham vs Hampton vs North Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Windham | Hampton | North Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
23,961Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,221 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
35.7±5.7 13% below CT |
| Hampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$71,976±$26k 25% below CT |
| Hampton and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$267,300±$59k 27% below CT |
| Hampton and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,146±$152 23% below CT |
| Hampton and Putnam 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 |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,893 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
12.1%±5.3 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and North Canaan 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #91 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hampton School District | North Canaan School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.