Compare towns
Putnam vs Orange vs Thompson vs Winchester
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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Winchester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Orange | Thompson | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
7,573Lowest |
9,337 |
10,284Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Winchester 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchester 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±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12k 18% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$249,500±$17k 25% below U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,780Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Thompson School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.0 |
7.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.