Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Winsted 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%).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Thompson | Winsted | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
9,337Highest |
6,977Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3 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%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winsted and Thompson 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% CT: 42.5% |
26.8%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% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Winsted 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 |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
$65,511±$7k 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 |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
$245,100±$13k 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±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,183±$130Highest 20% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| Winsted 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 |
$3,754 43% 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% |
45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Winsted 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% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
54.7% 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 |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
1956 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 |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.