Compare towns

Putnam vs Pascoag vs Thompson

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).
Pascoag has the highest household income ($121k).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasurePutnamPascoagThompson
People
Population
9,292
4,410Lowest
9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
39.1±3.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pascoag 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%
21%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Pascoag 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%
26.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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
13% below U.S.
$121,369±$34kHighest
50% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Pascoag and Thompson 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.
$365,000±$47kHighest
10% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,319±$444Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Pascoag 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.
$4,395Highest
41% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±27.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
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 — #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

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.