Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin vs Thompson vs Pomfret
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 (40.2% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 |
3,378Lowest |
9,337Highest |
4,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Berlin 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 13% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| 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 24% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston | Thompson School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | 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.