Compare towns
Thomaston vs Needham vs Stafford
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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,511 |
| 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. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest 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% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,131Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Needham 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | 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 |
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.