Compare towns
Suffield vs Orange vs Putnam vs Wolcott
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 people working from home (18.4%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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.
| Measure | Suffield | Orange | Putnam | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
16,279Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
| Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Wolcott 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Wolcott 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$110,850±$10k 16% above CT |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
| Orange and Wolcott 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,799 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | — | Putnam School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | — | Putnam High School | Wolcott High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.