Compare towns
Derby vs Griswold vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Griswold has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Derby | Griswold | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Highest |
11,530 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Griswold and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 min 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Thompson 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Griswold School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Griswold High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.