Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin vs Thompson vs Putnam
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,378Lowest |
9,337Highest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% 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% |
18.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below 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. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% 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%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| 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.