Compare towns
Salem vs Chaplin vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Salem | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.