Compare towns
Barnard vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Barnard | Putnam | Thompson | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.