Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin vs Thompson vs Pomfret
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 (40.2% rent).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Thompson | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
20,361Highest |
9,337 |
4,317Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.7±3 18% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
| Berlin and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
| Pomfret and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
| Berlin and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,903 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Pomfret 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Berlin School District | Thompson School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Berlin High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.