Compare towns
Putnam vs Norfolk 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).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Norfolk | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,723Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Norfolk 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% |
15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Norfolk 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% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Thompson 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% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Thompson 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 |
$91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,190±$116Highest 20% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Norfolk 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 |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Norfolk School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | 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.