Compare towns
Putnam vs Worcester 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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Worcester | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Putnam 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. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Thompson 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | South High Community | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
14.6Highest |
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.