Compare towns

Griswold vs Thompson vs Worcester

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 affordable homes ($276k median).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% 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.

MeasureGriswoldThompsonWorcester
People
Population
11,530
9,337Lowest
207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+14.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below 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%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Worcester and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Griswold 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%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$374,400±$7kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,487±$38Highest
5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,733Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Worcester 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%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Worcester 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 #130 of 149 in CT #266 of 282 in MA
School district Griswold School District Thompson School District Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town Griswold High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
7.9Lowest
14.6Highest
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.