Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield vs Willington 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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Suffield | Willington | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
15,702Highest |
5,575Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Willington 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Suffield and Willington 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,419 18% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | Willington School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
10.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.