Compare towns
Providence vs Putnam vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Towns like ProvidenceWarwick
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Providence | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 191,767Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Classical High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.2Highest |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.