Compare towns

Putnam vs Durham vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasurePutnamDurhamPutnam
People
Population
9,292Highest
7,208
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
Durham 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%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam 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
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam and Durham 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%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Putnam 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
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,154±$448Highest
22% below CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
Durham 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
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Durham 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%
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
25 minHighest
5% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Regional School District 13 —
High school in town Putnam High School Coginchaug Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Highest
8.9Lowest
—
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.