Compare towns
Winchester vs Thompson vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Winchester | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,284Highest |
9,337 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Thompson and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780Highest 28% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Thompson School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.