Compare towns

Suffield vs Naugatuck vs Putnam

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Naugatuck has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
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.

MeasureSuffieldNaugatuckPutnam
People
Population
15,702
31,800Highest
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
39.8±2.4Lowest
3% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Suffield and Putnam 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%
19.9%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Naugatuck and Putnam 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%
15.6%±2Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
32.2%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
7.8%±1.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$96,324±$9k
about the CT average
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$259,100±$13kLowest
29% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
$1,369±$58
8% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Suffield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$6,362
4% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.2%±9.4
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Suffield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.3%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.8%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below CT
33 minHighest
26% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Suffield and Naugatuck 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 #116 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Suffield School District Naugatuck School District Putnam School District
High school in town Suffield High School Naugatuck High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
15.2Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.