Compare towns

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

MeasurePutnamThompsonPutnam
People
Population
9,292
9,337Highest
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam 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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
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%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Putnam and Putnam 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
$93,629±$18kHighest
about the CT average
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
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±$11k
27% below CT
$291,900±$24kHighest
20% below CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% 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
$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
$3,860Highest
42% below CT
$3,822
42% below CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
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%
CT: 10%
5.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
84.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1963Highest
4 yrs older than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
25 min
5% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
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 #128 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
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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.