Compare towns
Stafford vs Sutton 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
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Stafford | Sutton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
9,452 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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 15% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 65% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest 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 | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 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 | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Sutton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.