Compare towns
Thompson vs Bristol 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 most homeowners (84.3%).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Bristol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
61,462Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol 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±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol 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 CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Bristol 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Bristol School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.