Compare towns
Wallingford vs Putnam vs Wallingford Center
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 most homeowners (72.8%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Wallingford Center has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Wallingford Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
9,292Lowest |
18,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.6±4.4Lowest 4% below CT |
| 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%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Wallingford and Putnam 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% |
21.4%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wallingford Center 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5kHighest 9% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$89,959±$8k 6% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8kHighest 4% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$319,200±$11k 13% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84Highest 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,336±$102 10% below CT |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963Highest 10% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,264 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.8%±11.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center 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%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
12.9%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center 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 | — |
| 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.