Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Townsend vs Griswold
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
9,337 |
9,100Lowest |
11,530Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | North Middlesex | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Middlesex Regional | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.