Compare towns
Middlefield vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Middlefield | Putnam | Thompson | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.