Compare towns
Thomaston vs Needham vs Morris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Needham | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
32,459Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.