Compare towns
Putnam vs Quinebaug vs Suffield 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).
Quinebaug has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Quinebaug | Suffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,193Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield 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 |
$105,181±$36k 10% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Suffield and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$3,703 44% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.