Compare towns
Thomaston vs Willimantic vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).
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 | Thomaston | Willimantic | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
18,096Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kHighest 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Thomaston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Putnam and Thomaston 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.