Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Mansfield 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 highest household income ($103k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Killingly | Mansfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
17,867 |
25,358Highest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Thomaston 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Thomaston and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Thomaston 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | E. O. Smith High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1 |
11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.