Compare towns
Norfolk vs Thompson vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Norfolk | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,337Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Thompson and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Thompson and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Highest 20% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Norfolk and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Thompson School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.