Compare towns
Putnam vs Preston vs Ansonia
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 most affordable homes ($269k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Preston | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,821Lowest |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Preston 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Preston 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 26% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Preston and Ansonia 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Preston 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Ansonia 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.