Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem vs Union
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Salem | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
4,282 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Salem 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Union 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Putnam 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Salem School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.