Compare towns
Salem vs Union 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 people working from home (18%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
944Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Union and Putnam 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Union 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 | Union 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.