Compare towns
Putnam vs Ashford vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Putnam | Ashford | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
4,226Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ashford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Ashford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Ashford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ashford School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.