Compare towns

Putnam vs Whately 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).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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.

MeasurePutnamWhatelyThompson
People
Population
9,292
1,499Lowest
9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
49.3±6.7
27% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Thompson and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Putnam and Whately 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%
24.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Whately 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Thompson 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.
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Whately 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±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$431,500±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$977±$125Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
Putnam and Thompson 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.
$5,027Highest
61% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±29Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Putnam 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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Whately 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 — #130 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Whately Thompson School District
High school in town Putnam High School None in town 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

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.