Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield vs Bethlehem
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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Suffield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
15,702Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Bethlehem 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethlehem 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Bethlehem 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| 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.