Compare towns
Putnam vs Durham 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Durham | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,347Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Durham 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±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Durham and Putnam 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 |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham 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 CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | 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 |
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.