What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Stafford	Thompson
People
Population	11,511Highest	9,337Lowest
Median age	46.7±4.8Lowest 14% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	22%±3Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Stafford and Thompson 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	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average
	Thompson and Stafford 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	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT
	Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$85Highest 27% below CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Stafford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,131Highest 23% below CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Stafford 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%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the CT average	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
	Thompson and Stafford 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Stafford School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Stafford High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.