Compare towns
Putnam vs Scotland 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).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Scotland | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
1,599Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.7±5 9% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Scotland 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% |
18.6%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Scotland 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% |
33.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Scotland 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 |
$99,881±$12kHighest 4% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Scotland 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 27% below CT |
$294,100±$20kHighest 20% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Scotland 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 23% below CT |
$1,188±$468Highest 20% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Scotland 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 |
$6,175Highest 7% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
0%±75.7Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 24% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.5%±6.2 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Scotland 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 | Scotland 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.