Compare towns
Roxbury 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
Roxbury has the most expensive homes ($715k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Roxbury | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,185Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 54.7±1.8Highest 33% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4Lowest 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+ | 31%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Roxbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,864±$27kHighest 29% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Roxbury and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $714,500±$77kHighest 95% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$418Highest 15% above CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,591Highest about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±48.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Roxbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above CT |
35 min 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Roxbury 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 | Regional School District 12 | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None 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.