What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has the most homeowners (79.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stafford	Putnam
People
Population	11,511Highest	9,292Lowest
Median age	46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT	43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT
	Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3Highest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Putnam and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT	$269,200±$11kHighest 27% below CT
	Putnam and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT	$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT
	Putnam and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,131Highest 23% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest CT: 10%	11.5%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the CT average	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	11%±3.5Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Stafford and Putnam 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	#96 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Stafford School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Stafford High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.