Compare towns
Putnam vs Derby vs Danielson vs Thompson
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).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Derby | Danielson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
12,487Highest |
4,209Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Danielson 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Derby and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Derby School District | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Derby High School | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.7Highest |
— | 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.