Compare towns

Putnam vs Smithfield vs Ansonia

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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamSmithfieldAnsonia
People
Population
9,292Lowest
22,233Highest
19,033
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
40.1±1.6Lowest
3% above U.S.
Putnam and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Putnam and Ansonia 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%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield 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%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$85,877±$10k
6% above U.S.
Smithfield and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$287,200±$14k
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,476±$121Highest
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$5,446Highest
75% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.7%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Ansonia 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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield and Ansonia 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 #8 of 38 in RI #142 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Smithfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District
High school in town Putnam High School Smithfield High School Emmett O'Brien Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.8
12.2Highest
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.