Compare towns
Thompson vs Sutton vs Quinebaug 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
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Sutton | Quinebaug | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
9,452Highest |
1,193Lowest |
9,292 |
| 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. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% 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% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% 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% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 |
| 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.