Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Plainville vs Derby
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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Thompson | Plainville | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
17,551Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Thompson and Plainville 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% 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±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainville High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.