Compare towns
Thompson vs Putnam vs Putnam vs Douglas
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Putnam | Putnam | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
9,292 |
7,120Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Thompson School District | Putnam School District | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
9.5Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.