Compare towns
Redding vs Hamden vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Redding | Hamden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Redding and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Hamden High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.