Compare towns
Putnam vs Cranston 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).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Cranston | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
83,250Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston 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% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Cranston 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. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Cranston 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Cranston 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 | #27 of 38 in RI | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Cranston High School West | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
15.4Highest |
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.