Compare towns
Thompson vs Barkhamsted vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Barkhamsted | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
3,678Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
46.7±4.8Lowest 14% above CT |
| Thompson and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Barkhamsted and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,164±$114Highest 22% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Barkhamsted and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Barkhamsted School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.