Compare towns

Stepney vs Putnam vs Bethany

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 (40.2% rent).
Bethany has the most people working from home (12%).

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.

MeasureStepneyPutnamBethany
People
Population
3,979Lowest
9,292Highest
5,288
Median age
47.1±5.6Highest
15% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
42.5±2.9Lowest
3% above CT
Stepney and Putnam 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
Stepney and Bethany 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%
18.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam 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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±5.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,966±$16k
61% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
Bethany and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$53kHighest
30% above CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$418,000±$42k
14% above CT
Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,309Highest
40% above CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$8,313
25% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.2%±48.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
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%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.4%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
32 min
21% above CT
Work from home
9.8%±4.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
12%±5.2Highest
CT: 16%
Bethany 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 #30 of 149 in CT
School district — Putnam School District Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town — Putnam High School None in town
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.