Compare towns
Thompson vs Bristol 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 most homeowners (84.3%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 |
22,220Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Bristol 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% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Bristol 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. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Bristol 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Bristol Warren | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Mt. Hope High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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.