Compare towns
Putnam vs Upton vs Putnam vs Thompson
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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Upton | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,189 |
7,120Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Thompson 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.2Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.