Compare towns
Putnam vs Needham vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Needham | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
32,459Highest |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Needham 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 13% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Needham | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.