Compare towns
Wallingford vs Putnam vs North Haven
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 youngest population (median age 42.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
9,292Lowest |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Putnam 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% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Wallingford 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% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and North Haven 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 |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963 10% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,964Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Highest CT: 52.6% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| North Haven 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 | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
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.