Compare towns
Putnam vs Hamden 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Hamden | Griswold | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
61,045Highest |
11,530 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below 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% |
17%±1.5 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% |
18.1%±1.3 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Hamden and Griswold 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Derby 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Griswold School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Hamden High School | Griswold High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.5 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.