Compare towns
Putnam vs Sprague 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 renters (40.2% rent).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Sprague | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,962Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Sprague and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Sprague 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% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague 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% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Putnam 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 |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield and Sprague 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 |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sprague School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.