Compare towns
Thompson vs Upton vs Chaplin 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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Upton | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
8,189 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Chaplin 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Chaplin 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
11.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.