Compare towns
Thompson vs Bethlehem vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Bethlehem | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
3,423 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Bethlehem 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,181±$36k 10% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
— |
| Bethlehem and Thompson 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 |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Regional School District 14 | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| 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.