Compare towns
Thompson vs Ayer 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ayer | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 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+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Ayer 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% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.