Compare towns

Thompson vs Oakham vs Griswold 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 people working from home (13.1%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.

MeasureThompsonOakhamGriswoldPutnam
People
Population
9,337
1,639Lowest
11,530Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Putnam and Griswold 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%
21.4%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Oakham 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%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Oakham 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.
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Oakham 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.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,177±$65Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Griswold and Oakham 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.
$4,103
32% above U.S.
$4,628Highest
48% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold 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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Oakham 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 — #118 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Quabbin Griswold School District Putnam School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School None in town Griswold High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
—
11.5Highest
9.5
On TownTapestry
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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.