Compare towns
Thompson vs Canterbury vs Columbia
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 affordable homes ($292k median).
Canterbury has the most kids (15% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
5,124Lowest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.4±4.5Lowest 18% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia 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% |
15%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Canterbury and Columbia 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% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia 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% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Highest 32% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Thompson and Columbia 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 |
$4,140 38% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Canterbury School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.