Compare towns
Suffield vs Watertown 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 people working from home (18.4%).
Watertown has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Watertown | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
22,253Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Watertown 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% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Watertown 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% |
23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown and Putnam 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% |
38.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Suffield and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Suffield and Watertown 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 |
$6,014 9% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Watertown 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% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Watertown School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Watertown High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.6 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.