Compare towns

Putnam vs Chaplin vs Union

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).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).

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.

MeasurePutnamChaplinUnion
People
Population
9,292Highest
2,070
944Lowest
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
43.7±4.8Lowest
6% above CT
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
Union and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±4.3
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+
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±2.6Highest
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+
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3
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
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$330,400±$26kHighest
10% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
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Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
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
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
32 min
20% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Chaplin 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 — —
School district Putnam School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Union School District
High school in town Putnam High School Parish Hill High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Highest
7.5Lowest
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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.