Compare towns

Putnam vs Crystal Lake vs Ansonia

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).
Crystal Lake has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamCrystal LakeAnsonia
People
Population
9,292
2,024Lowest
19,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
-1.7%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
48.9±7.6Highest
19% above CT
40.1±1.6Lowest
about the CT average
Crystal Lake and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
24.5%±7.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.3%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Crystal Lake 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%
23.3%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Crystal Lake 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
45.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.3%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Crystal Lake and Ansonia 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
$143,882±$29kHighest
50% above CT
$85,877±$10k
10% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$361,800±$35kHighest
about the CT average
$287,200±$14k
22% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
—
$1,476±$121Highest
about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$7,146Highest
8% above CT
$5,446
18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
0%±93.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.7%±10Highest
CT: 52.6%
Ansonia 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%
1.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
91.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
58.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1954Lowest
13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
39 minHighest
47% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
17.5%±10Highest
CT: 16%
9.1%±2.9
CT: 16%
Crystal Lake and Ansonia 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 — #142 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District
High school in town Putnam High School — Emmett O'Brien Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
12.2Highest
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.