Compare towns
Thompson vs Brookfield 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
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
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 | Brookfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
3,460Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Brookfield | 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 |
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.