Compare towns
Putnam vs Suffield vs Winsted 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%).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Winsted | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
15,702Highest |
6,977Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3 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% |
25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Winsted 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.8% 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% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Winsted and Suffield 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 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% 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±$11k 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,183±$130 20% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Suffield and Winsted 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 |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Suffield 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% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Suffield School District | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Suffield High School | — | 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.