Compare towns
Putnam vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
25,612Highest |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% 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% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Putnam 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.