Compare towns
Griswold vs Pepperell 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
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Griswold | Pepperell | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530 |
11,663Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628 48% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | North Middlesex | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.