Compare towns
Thompson vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Chaplin 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Chaplin 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±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,524Highest 32% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
7.5Lowest |
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.