Compare towns
Thomaston vs Durham vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Thomaston | Durham | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
7,208Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Durham and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,131Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Regional School District 13 | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.