Compare towns

Putnam vs Dudley vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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.

MeasurePutnamDudleyPutnam
People
Population
9,292
11,929Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
40.2±2.4Lowest
3% above U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
Putnam 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
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Dudley 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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$84,604±$12kHighest
5% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Dudley 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±$11k
19% below U.S.
$392,600±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,217±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,147±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
Dudley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Highest
24% above U.S.
$3,691
18% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Dudley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dudley 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 #142 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Dudley-Charlton Reg —
High school in town Putnam High School Shepherd Hill Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
14.3Highest
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On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.