Compare towns
Thompson vs Athol vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Thompson | Athol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
12,011Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below 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 | $291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,860Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Athol 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Athol-Royalston | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Athol High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.