Compare towns
Thompson vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most expensive homes ($302k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Gardner | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
21,148Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner 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 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Putnam 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Gardner 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. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Gardner | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.