What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

Bristol has the most people working from home (11.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Bristol
People
Population	9,292Lowest	61,462Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Bristol 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 CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%
	Bristol and Putnam 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	$79,076±$6kHighest 17% below CT
	Bristol and Putnam 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	$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT
	Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT	$5,449Highest 18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest CT: 10%	10.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	64.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	24 minLowest 11% below CT
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%
	Bristol and Putnam 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	#115 of 149 in CT
School district	Putnam School District	Bristol School District
High school in town	Putnam High School	Bristol Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.