Compare towns
Middlesex vs Thompson vs Sutton vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% 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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Thompson | Sutton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
9,337 |
9,452Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535 27% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thompson School District | Sutton | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.