Compare towns

Thompson vs Sutton vs Putnam vs Quinebaug

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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.

MeasureThompsonSuttonPutnamQuinebaug
People
Population
9,337
9,452Highest
9,292
1,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2
39% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
Sutton and Quinebaug 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.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
—
Sutton 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Sutton 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Quinebaug and Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Thompson School District Sutton Putnam School District —
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Sutton High School Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
12.6Highest
9.5
—
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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.