Compare towns

Putnam vs Orange 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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.

MeasurePutnamOrangePutnam
People
Population
9,292
14,315Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
-2.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
Orange 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
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
Orange 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
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Orange 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%
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Orange 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
26% below CT
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
42% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
11.5%
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
89.2%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 minLowest
6% below CT
28 minHighest
4% above CT
25 min
5% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #38 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District — —
High school in town Putnam High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.