Compare towns
Putnam vs Brookfield vs Thompson vs Putnam
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Brookfield | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
17,706Highest |
9,337 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Brookfield 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 26% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Brookfield School District | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Brookfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
12.7Highest |
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.