What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Thompson
People
Population	9,292Lowest	9,337Highest
Median age	43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Thompson and Putnam 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%	21.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Putnam and Thompson 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	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average
	Thompson and Putnam 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	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT
	Thompson and Putnam 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	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Putnam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,860Highest 42% below CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±11.6Lowest 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%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
	Thompson and Putnam 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	Thompson School District
High school in town	Putnam High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.