Compare towns
Putnam vs Thomaston vs Union vs Putnam
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Thomaston | Union | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Highest |
7,492 |
944Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Union and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Union 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 |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Thomaston and Union 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| 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 42% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thomaston School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Thomaston High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.