Compare towns
Putnam vs Ware vs Pomfret 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).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Ware | Pomfret | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
10,048Highest |
4,317Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Ware 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% 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. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ware | Pomfret School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.