Compare towns
Putnam vs Bernardston 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 (40.2% rent).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Bernardston | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,164Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Bernardston 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. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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. |
$332,000±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Putnam 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. |
$4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Pioneer Valley | 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 |
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.