Compare towns
Thompson vs Worcester vs Putnam vs Quinebaug
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 expensive homes ($292k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Worcester | Putnam | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
831Lowest |
9,292 |
1,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Putnam and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Quinebaug 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.