Compare towns

Thompson vs Prospect 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%).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
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.

MeasureThompsonProspectPutnam
People
Population
9,337
9,458Highest
9,292Lowest
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
46.8±3.9
14% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Prospect 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
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Prospect 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%
CT: 42.5%
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Putnam and Prospect 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
about the CT average
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Prospect 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
20% below CT
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
$6,504Highest
about the CT average
$3,860
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Thompson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
4 yrs older than CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above CT
28 min
4% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Thompson and Prospect 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 #50 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Regional School District 16 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

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.