Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Wakefield
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Wakefield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.