Compare towns
Putnam vs Reading vs Reading vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Reading | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Reading 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 19% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Reading | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Reading Memorial High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.