Compare towns
Putnam vs Hamden 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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Hamden | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Hamden 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Thompson 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Hamden 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Hamden High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
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.