Compare towns
Thompson vs Bethany vs Windsor Locks vs Griswold
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).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
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 | Bethany | Windsor Locks | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
5,288Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| Thompson and Griswold 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% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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 |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Windsor Locks School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 8.9 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.