Compare towns
Thompson vs Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Quinebaug
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 most expensive homes ($292k median).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bristol | Windsor Locks | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
61,462Highest |
12,579 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
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% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug 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% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
— |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol 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 |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,703 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Windsor Locks 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Bristol School District | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Bristol Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.