Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Danielson
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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Sterling | Danielson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,209 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $1,235±$194Highest 17% below CT |
| Danielson 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 |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Sterling School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | 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.