Compare towns

Stepney vs Putnam vs Barkhamsted

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureStepneyPutnamBarkhamsted
People
Population
3,979
7,120Highest
3,678Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
47.1±5.6
15% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
Barkhamsted and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±5.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Stepney and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±4.1
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Barkhamsted and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.2%
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±5.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
Stepney and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,966±$16kHighest
61% above CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
$123,544±$9k
29% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$53kHighest
30% above CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$368,000±$15k
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
$1,164±$114
22% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,309Highest
40% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$6,354
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.2%±48.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Stepney and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
3.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
28 min
6% above CT
Work from home
9.8%±4.3
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
Barkhamsted and Stepney 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 — #128 of 149 in CT #63 of 149 in CT
School district — — Barkhamsted School District
High school in town — — None in town
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.