Compare towns
Chaplin vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam | Thompson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Chaplin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
7.9 |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.