The Town FilesPutnam, Connecticut
Town · population 9,224 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,200
- Household income
- $70,561
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.7
Putnam is a town of 9,224 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $269,200, below the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Connecticut towns, more walkable than 80% of Connecticut towns, more vibrant than 78% of Connecticut towns.
How Putnam ranks
Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Putnam is worth $269,200, below the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $70,561, which is more affordable than 40% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,149 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Putnam | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,200 | $376,000 |
| Median rent | $1,149 | $1,462 |
| Median household income | $70,561 | $109,167 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 80.3% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Putnam
| People | Putnam | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 45.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 45.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 16.8% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 27.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 93.8% |
Weather in Putnam
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.5 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Putnam since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 4, 2018 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
Public schools in Putnam
3 public schools with 1,164 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam Elementary School | PK-4 | 558 | 14.3 |
| Putnam Middle School | 5-8 | 335 | 10.8 |
| Putnam High School | 9-12 | 271 | 10.8 |
Towns near Putnam
- Putnam, CT2.2 mi · 7,065 people · home $245,100
- Killingly, CT5.5 mi · 17,752 people · home $288,600
- Thompson, CT5.7 mi · 9,189 people · home $291,900
- Pomfret, CT5.9 mi · 4,266 people · home $409,100
- Danielson, CT7.0 mi · 4,155 people · home $224,600
- Woodstock, CT8.8 mi · 8,221 people · home $417,200
- Pascoag, RI9.1 mi · 4,641 people · home $365,000
- Brooklyn, CT9.5 mi · 8,450 people · home $315,200
Putnam questions
Is Putnam, Connecticut a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Putnam scores better for retirees than 16% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 25%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Putnam?
The median owner-occupied home in Putnam is valued at $269,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,561, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,149 a month.
What is the weather like in Putnam?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 38.5 inches of snow.
Does Putnam get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Putnam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 4, 2018. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)