Compare towns
Putnam vs Smithfield vs Thompson vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
22,233Highest |
9,337 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Smithfield 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±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Thompson 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Smithfield | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Smithfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.