Compare towns
Thompson vs Exeter vs Putnam vs Canterbury
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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Exeter | Putnam | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
7,195 |
9,292 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Thompson 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Canterbury 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. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Canterbury 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thompson 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Putnam School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.