Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield 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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Suffield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
15,702Highest |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Suffield and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Suffield 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
10.9Highest |
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.