Compare towns

Thomaston vs Middlefield 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).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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.

MeasureThomastonMiddlefieldStafford
People
Population
7,492
4,243Lowest
11,511Highest
Median age
41.5±7.7Lowest
about the CT average
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
46.7±4.8
14% above CT
Middlefield and Stafford 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%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
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%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.5%±7.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
22%±3
CT: 18.5%
Middlefield and Stafford 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%
41.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
5.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Middlefield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
$99,837±$20k
4% above CT
$93,235±$16kLowest
about the CT average
Thomaston and Middlefield 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
$376,000±$27kHighest
about the CT average
$263,800±$22kLowest
28% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$3,501Highest
135% above CT
$1,086±$85
27% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,915
11% below CT
$6,853Highest
3% above CT
$5,131Lowest
23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
41.5%±12.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield 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%
8.1%Highest
CT: 10%
7.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
79.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
Work from home
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.9%±4.1
CT: 16%
11%±3.5Highest
CT: 16%
Stafford and Middlefield 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 #65 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 None in town Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
—
9.8Lowest
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.