Compare towns
Putnam vs Sprague 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Sprague has the highest household income ($93k).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Sprague | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
2,962 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Sprague 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Sprague 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% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Union 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±$11kHighest 3% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Sprague and Union 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 |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
— |
| Sprague and Putnam 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 |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sprague 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.