Compare towns
Putnam vs Walpole 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
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 | Walpole | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
26,388Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Walpole 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% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Walpole High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.