Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham vs Suffield vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Windham | Suffield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
23,961Highest |
15,702 |
9,337 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Suffield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Windham High School | Suffield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
9.8 |
10.9Highest |
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.