Compare towns
Willimantic vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Willimantic | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Brooklyn 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 | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.


