Compare towns
Putnam vs Dedham vs Thompson vs Ansonia
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Dedham | Thompson | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,337 |
19,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ansonia and Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$85,877±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$287,200±$14k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,476±$121 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,446 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Dedham | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Dedham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
10.4 |
7.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.