Compare towns
Wallingford vs Putnam vs New Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Putnam | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
9,292Lowest |
28,334 |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
42.1±1.9Lowest about the CT average |
| Putnam and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Wallingford 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% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$106,411±$8kHighest 11% above CT |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$391,500±$10kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,609±$152Highest 8% above CT |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963 10% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,150Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
| New Milford and Wallingford 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Putnam School District | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Putnam High School | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.