Compare towns
Thompson vs Williston 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
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Quinebaug has the most homeowners (97%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Williston | Quinebaug | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
10,144Highest |
1,193Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,703 19% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.