Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Sterling vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Quinebaug | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,193Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
20%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Quinebaug and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% 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±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| 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.