Compare towns
Madison 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
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Madison | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
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.