Compare towns
Putnam vs Griswold vs Derby
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).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Griswold | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
11,530 |
12,487Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Griswold and Derby 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% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
| Derby and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$275,900±$42kHighest 25% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Derby 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% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Griswold School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Griswold High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.