Compare towns
Putnam vs Shelton vs Suffield
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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
41,889Highest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton and Suffield 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±$11k 13% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Shelton 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Shelton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Shelton School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Shelton High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.