Compare towns
Putnam vs Sprague vs Washington
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 housing (typical home built 1959).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
2,962Lowest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
| Washington and Sprague 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Sprague and Washington 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 |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Sprague 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Putnam 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sprague School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.