Compare towns
Suffield vs Durham vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Suffield | Durham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Durham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Durham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Suffield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.