Compare towns
Putnam vs Redding vs Wauregan
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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% 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.
| Measure | Putnam | Redding | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
8,780 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Redding 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Redding 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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 CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Joel Barlow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.