Compare towns
Thompson vs Barkhamsted vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Barkhamsted | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
3,678Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Thompson and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Barkhamsted 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 about the CT average |
$123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,164±$114Highest 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Barkhamsted and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Barkhamsted School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.