Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Putnam vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Colchester has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Wethersfield | Putnam | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,250Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$366,800±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colchester and Wethersfield 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Putnam School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Putnam High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.