Compare towns
Putnam vs Crystal Lake vs Putnam
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 highest household income ($144k).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Crystal Lake | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
2,024Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
— | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Crystal Lake 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.