Compare towns

Putnam vs Durham 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamDurhamGriswold
People
Population
9,292
7,208Lowest
11,530Highest
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
Griswold and Durham 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%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
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%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
Putnam and Griswold 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%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Putnam and Durham 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
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,177±$65Highest
21% below CT
Griswold and Durham 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
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$4,628
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Durham 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%
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Regional School District 13 Griswold School District
High school in town Putnam High School Coginchaug Regional High School Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
8.9Lowest
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.