What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Vernon	Putnam
People
Population	30,577Highest	9,292Lowest
Median age	39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
	Putnam and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Putnam and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Vernon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT
	Vernon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,804Highest 13% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±5.7Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Vernon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest CT: 10%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Vernon and Putnam 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	#107 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Vernon School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Rockville High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.