Compare towns
Clinton vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Clinton | Putnam | Thompson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
9,292 |
9,337 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.5 |
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.