Compare towns
Putnam vs Derby 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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Putnam | Derby | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
12,487Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Derby 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Derby 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 |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
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.