Compare towns
Putnam vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Thompson | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,684Lowest |
9,337 |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%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% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$85,877±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Ansonia 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. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$287,200±$14k 14% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,476±$121Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,446Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% 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. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 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. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Ansonia 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 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.