What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harwinton has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harwinton	Thompson
People
Population	5,575Lowest	9,337Highest
Median age	46.1±4.3Lowest 12% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Thompson and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Harwinton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,100±$16kHighest 4% below CT	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Harwinton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,503Highest 17% below CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest CT: 10%	5.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Harwinton 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	#34 of 149 in CT	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 10	Thompson School District
High school 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

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.