Compare towns
Putnam vs Manchester 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Manchester has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Manchester | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
59,635Highest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Manchester 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 |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Manchester 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 |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Manchester 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Manchester 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Manchester High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.1Highest |
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.