Compare towns

Union vs Brooklyn vs Putnam

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Brooklyn has the most people working from home (10.7%).
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.

MeasureUnionBrooklynPutnam
People
Population
944Lowest
8,517
9,292Highest
Median age
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
Union and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Brooklyn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Brooklyn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,400±$26kHighest
10% below CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Union and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,149±$44Highest
23% below CT
Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Union and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Brooklyn and Union 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 — #113 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Union School District Brooklyn School District Putnam School District
High school in town None in town None in town Putnam High School
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.