Compare towns
Barnard vs Calais vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Barnard | Calais | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,713 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.