Compare towns
Plainville 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
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Plainville | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
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.