Compare towns

Thompson vs Providence 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 homeowners (84.3%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

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.

MeasureThompsonProvidencePutnam
People
Population
9,337
191,767Highest
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Providence 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
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
Thompson and Putnam 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.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,418Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence and Thompson 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 #36 of 38 in RI #128 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Putnam School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Classical High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
17.2Highest
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.