Living in Putnam, CT
Putnam is a 20-square-mile Windham County town on the Quinebaug River in northeastern Connecticut, with a Main Street historic district of antiques shops, restaurants and a theater.
Putnam at a glance
- Median sale price
- $350,000+5.1% vs last year 153 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 18.50 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$4,500 median-priced home
- Population
- 9,407 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 20.3 sq mi 463 per sq mi
What it is like in Putnam
Putnam is in Windham County, in northeastern Connecticut, and borders Killingly, Thompson, Pomfret and Woodstock. It covers 20.3 square miles of land and had 9,407 residents in the facts used for this guide. The Quinebaug River runs through the center of town, and the Five Mile River runs through East Putnam.
The area was called Aspinock and was part of Killingly until Putnam was incorporated in 1855 from parts of Killingly, Pomfret and Thompson. It was named for Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam and grew as a mill town. Floods from Hurricanes Connie and Diane on August 19, 1955 damaged homes, businesses and factories and washed away the railroad bed.
Late in the 20th century, empty mills and downtown buildings became a large antiques center. The Putnam Railroad Station on Main Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Parks and open spaces in the facts file include Rotary Park, Veterans Park, Robert J. Miller Park, Murphy Recreation Park, Providence Street Park, Chaffee Preserve and Hayden Preserve. Connecticut National Golf Course is also in town.
Main Street has Antiques Marketplace at 109 Main Street, open since 1991, and restaurants and breweries including 85 Main, Blackstone, Courthouse Bar & Grille and Bear Hands Brewing Company. The Bradley Playhouse, completed in 1901, stages live theater. First Friday Putnam, an arts event started in 2010, is held monthly from March through October.
Getting around from Putnam
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 74 min | 49 |
| New Haven | 107 min | 89 |
| Stamford | 161 min | 128 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 215 min | 163 |
| Boston | 87 min | 67 |
| Providence | 45 min | 28 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 90 min | 59 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Interstate 395, US Route 44 and Connecticut Routes 12, 21 and 171 cross Putnam. The Northeastern Connecticut Transit District provides bus service. No rail stations are listed for the town in the facts file.
Providence is 28 miles and 45 minutes by car, Boston 67 miles and 87 minutes, and Hartford 49 miles and 74 minutes. Bradley Airport is 59 miles and 90 minutes away, New Haven 89 miles and 107 minutes, and Midtown New York City 163 miles and 215 minutes.
Schools in Putnam
3 public schools in Putnam School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- Putnam
Middle 1
- Putnam
High school 1
- Putnam High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Putnam School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Putnam
Open Putnam in Google Maps →Eat and drink 10
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Restaurant on Main Street serving American fusion dishes, with lunch and dinner menus and a private event space.
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Brewery and taproom pouring beer brewed on site, plus cider, seltzer and spirits; outside food is allowed.
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Breakfast and lunch restaurant known for a long list of muffins, with daily specials.
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Barbecue-style bar and grille that also operates as an event venue.
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Main Street restaurant serving steak and seafood plates, food flights and cocktails, with an outdoor bar and patio.
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Bar and grill serving burgers, sandwiches, steaks, seafood and pasta, with 16 rotating taps.
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Bakery making cookies, pastries and custom cakes, with baking classes.
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Bistro and caterer offering sandwiches, soups, brunch items and French-style desserts such as macarons.
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Coffee house and dessert bar in downtown Putnam serving coffee and baked goods.
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Irish-style pub on Main Street open daily for lunch and dinner.
Things to do and see 2
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Antiques mall open since 1991 with many dealer spaces, open Wednesday through Monday.
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Theater built in 1901 that stages plays, musicals and special events, run by Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut.
Parks, preserves and trails 46
Show 32 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Putnam housing market
Over the last 12 months, 153 homes sold in Putnam with a median sale price of $350,000 and a median of 16 days on market. There are 24 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $224 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 5.1% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 1.9 months.
Putnam's town-wide property tax rate is 18.50 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $4,500 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Putnam
See all 24 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Putnam.
Questions about Putnam
What is the median home price in Putnam, CT?
The median sale price in Putnam is $350,000, based on 153 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Putnam, CT?
Putnam's town-wide property tax rate is 18.50 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $4,500 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Putnam, CT from Hartford?
Putnam is about 49 miles and a 74-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Putnam, CT from New York City?
Putnam is about 163 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 215-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Putnam, CT?
Putnam has about 9,407 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 20.3 square miles.
How many public schools are in Putnam, CT?
Putnam has 3 public schools in Putnam School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Putnam, CT?
There are 24 homes for sale in Putnam right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Putnam from Providence and Boston?
Providence is 28 miles and about 45 minutes by car. Boston is 67 miles and about 87 minutes away.
Which highways serve Putnam?
Interstate 395, US Route 44 and Connecticut Routes 12, 21 and 171 cross the town.
Is there bus service in Putnam?
The Northeastern Connecticut Transit District provides bus service.
What is First Friday Putnam?
It is a monthly arts event started in 2010 by local business owners, held March through October.
Which towns border Putnam?
Killingly, Thompson, Pomfret and Woodstock.
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Towns that border Putnam
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