Compare towns
Thompson vs Cranston 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%).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k 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.
| Measure | Thompson | Cranston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
83,250Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Cranston 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% |
16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$90,206±$4k 12% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Cranston 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. |
$378,300±$7kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,103Highest 64% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Cranston 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Cranston 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 | #27 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Cranston High School West | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
15.4Highest |
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.