What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Middletown
People
Population	9,292Lowest	47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Putnam and Middletown 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%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%	40.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT	$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT
	Middletown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT	$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT	$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT	$6,412Highest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Middletown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Putnam School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Putnam High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.