Compare towns
Putnam vs Bethlehem vs Pomfret vs Griswold
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 (40.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Bethlehem | Pomfret | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,423Lowest |
4,317 |
11,530Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Pomfret and Bethlehem 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 26% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,210±$300Highest 19% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Pomfret and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,903 11% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 14 | Pomfret School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 11.5Highest |
| 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.