Compare towns
Thompson vs West Haven vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Thompson | West Haven | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
55,351Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven 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 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and West Haven 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | West Haven High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
15.6Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.