Compare towns

Putnam vs Hamden vs Putnam

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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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.

MeasurePutnamHamdenPutnam
People
Population
9,292
61,045Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
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%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
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%
18.1%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam and Hamden 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%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
26% below CT
$98,306±$7kHighest
about the CT average
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$298,200±$9kHighest
19% below CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
42% below CT
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Hamden 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%
9.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1964Highest
3 yrs older than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
25 minHighest
5% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #122 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services —
High school in town Putnam High School Hamden High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
13.5Highest
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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.