Compare towns
Putnam vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
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 | Lyme | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
2,303Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
| Lyme and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Lyme 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Thompson 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% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Thompson 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 |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Lyme 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 |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% 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 |
31 min 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 18 | 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.