Compare towns
Putnam vs Waterford vs Griswold
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).
Waterford has the highest household income ($105k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Waterford | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
19,673Highest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
46±2.4 12% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold and Waterford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Waterford 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% |
22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Waterford 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Waterford 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 |
$104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$355,900±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,876Highest 27% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Waterford 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% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Waterford 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Learn · Waterford School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Waterford High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.