Compare towns
Putnam vs Johnston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Johnston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
29,835Highest |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Johnston 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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 13% below U.S. |
$91,866±$6kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putnam and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnston 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Johnston | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Johnston Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.