Compare towns
Thompson vs Plainfield vs Griswold 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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield | Griswold | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
15,141Highest |
11,530 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Thompson and Griswold 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 |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,628Highest 30% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 min 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Griswold School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | Griswold High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
11.5Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.