Compare towns
Putnam vs Washington vs Danielson vs Thompson
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
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 | Washington | Danielson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,676Lowest |
4,209 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Danielson 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Washington 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 27% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,235±$194Highest 17% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Danielson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
9.1 |
— | 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.