Compare towns
Salem vs Putnam vs Colchester
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 homeowners (86.6%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Colchester has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Putnam | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
9,292 |
15,648Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Colchester 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Colchester 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Colchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colchester 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 | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Putnam School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.