Compare towns
Thompson vs Reading vs Putnam 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Reading | Putnam | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
25,612Highest |
9,292 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | 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 | 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.