Compare towns
Thompson vs Nelson 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
648Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Thompson 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Thompson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Nelson School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.