Compare towns

Thompson vs Chaplin vs Upton 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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.

MeasureThompsonChaplinUptonPutnam
People
Population
9,337Highest
2,070Lowest
8,189
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
43.7±4.8Lowest
12% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
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
16% above U.S.
$97,846±$14k
21% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Chaplin 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 — #46 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Putnam School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Parish Hill High School Blackstone Valley Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9
7.5Lowest
11.2Highest
9.5
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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.