Compare towns
Stafford vs Thompson vs Ware
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 most kids (21.5% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Stafford | Thompson | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
9,337Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Ware 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 21% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stafford School District | Thompson School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.