Compare towns
Thompson vs Derby vs Putnam 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%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Derby | Putnam | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Thompson and Derby 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 |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Derby School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Derby High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.7Highest |
9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.