Compare towns
Thompson vs Meriden 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 people working from home (13.1%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Meriden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
60,545Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden 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 |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% 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 |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Meriden 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% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.