Compare towns
Thompson vs Bethlehem vs Quinebaug vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Bethlehem | Quinebaug | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
3,423 |
1,193Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Bethlehem 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% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Bethlehem 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,181±$36k 10% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
— | $1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,703 44% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Regional School District 14 | — | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.