Compare towns

Ellington vs Thomaston vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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.

MeasureEllingtonThomastonPutnam
People
Population
16,455Highest
7,492Lowest
9,292
Median age
40.9±2.4Lowest
about the CT average
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
Putnam and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±3.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
34%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±2.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,913±$17kHighest
36% above CT
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Ellington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$366,900±$17kHighest
about the CT average
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,737±$212Highest
17% above CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,751Highest
about the CT average
$5,915
11% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.3
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.2%
CT: 66.5%
77.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
18.4%±3.9Highest
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #46 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Ellington School District Thomaston School District Putnam School District
High school in town Ellington High School Thomaston High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
10.7Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.