Compare towns
Stafford vs Suffield vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Stafford | Suffield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511 |
15,702Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 27% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Suffield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Suffield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.9Highest |
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.