Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Ansonia
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% 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.
| Measure | Putnam | Ayer | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,645Lowest |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±1.6 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ansonia and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$85,877±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$287,200±$14k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,476±$121Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Ansonia and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,446Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.5 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.