What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).

Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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	Norwich
People
Population	9,292Lowest	39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2%
	Norwich 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%	16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Norwich 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%	23.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwich 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±$7kHighest 26% below CT	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
	Putnam and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT	$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT
	Norwich and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT	$4,703Highest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwich 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%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below CT	24 minLowest 9% below CT
Work from home	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Putnam and Norwich 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	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Putnam School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Putnam High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	14.8Highest
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.