Compare towns

Putnam vs Thompson vs Ware vs Pomfret

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k 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.

MeasurePutnamThompsonWarePomfret
People
Population
9,292
9,337Highest
6,369
4,317Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.9±3.7
18% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Pomfret 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%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±4.5
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%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.8%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%
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pomfret 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
13% below U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$108,476±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
Pomfret 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±$11k
19% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$409,100±$28kHighest
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,039±$104
26% below U.S.
$1,210±$300Highest
14% below U.S.
Pomfret and Putnam 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.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$5,903Highest
89% 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%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±15.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware and Pomfret 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 #267 of 282 in MA #39 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Thompson School District — Pomfret School District
High school in town Putnam High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Highest
7.9Lowest
— —
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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.