Compare towns
Putnam vs Union vs Chaplin
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).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Union and Putnam 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Chaplin 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Chaplin 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±$11k 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | — |
| School district | Putnam School District | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| 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.