Compare towns
Thompson vs Wakefield vs Putnam vs Griswold
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 most homeowners (84.3%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Putnam | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
27,793Highest |
9,292Lowest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Thompson 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Putnam School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Putnam High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.7 |
9.5 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.