Compare towns
Canterbury 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
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Canterbury | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Canterbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Highest 38% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.