Compare towns
Sterling vs Putnam vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k 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 | Sterling | Putnam | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,317 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$108,476±$8kHighest 13% above CT |
| Pomfret and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,210±$300Highest 19% below CT |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,903Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
| Pomfret and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Putnam School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | None 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.