Compare towns
Putnam vs Bethany 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).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Bethany | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
5,288Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Putnam 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% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Bethany 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% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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 |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Thompson 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 |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest 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 | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Bethany 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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.