Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Worcester vs Plainville
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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Worcester | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
9,337 |
831Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Plainville 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% 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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plainville 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±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Plainville 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±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.