Compare towns
Thompson vs Sutton vs Webster 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Webster | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Webster 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest 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. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sutton | Webster | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.6 |
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.