Compare towns
Putnam vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
25,358Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Mansfield 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 |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | E. O. Smith High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
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.