Compare towns
Thompson vs Putnam vs Stafford
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
9,292Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Stafford 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Stafford 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 |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Putnam School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.5 |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.