Compare towns
Putnam vs Shelton vs Brooklyn
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).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Shelton | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
41,889Highest |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Shelton 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton and Brooklyn 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 |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Shelton and Brooklyn 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 |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton and Brooklyn 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Shelton and Brooklyn 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Shelton School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Shelton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.