Compare towns
Simsbury vs Putnam vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Simsbury has the youngest population (median age 42.3).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Simsbury | Putnam | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,066 |
9,292Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 42.3±2.1Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Simsbury and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield and Simsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Simsbury and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,907±$11k 65% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Simsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,500±$11k 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,203±$118Highest 48% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
| Simsbury and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,115 37% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±8.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Simsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.1%±3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield and Simsbury 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 | #13 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Simsbury School District | Putnam School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Simsbury High School | Putnam High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.