Compare towns
Brookfield vs Putnam vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Brookfield | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Thompson 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.