Compare towns
Union vs Thomaston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Union | Thomaston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
7,492 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Union and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Thomaston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Thomaston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.