Compare towns
Thompson vs Windsor vs Suffield 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Windsor | Suffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
29,468Highest |
15,702 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Suffield 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 about the CT average |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Suffield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Suffield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor High School | Suffield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.2 |
10.9Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.