Compare towns
Putnam vs Colebrook 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Colebrook | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,494Lowest |
11,530Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| Colebrook and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Griswold 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Colebrook 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Colebrook School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | 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 |
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.