Compare towns
Thompson vs Colebrook vs Stafford
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 people working from home (13.1%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Colebrook | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
1,494Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
46.7±4.8Lowest 14% above CT |
| Thompson and Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Colebrook 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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 CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook 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±$18k about the CT average |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Colebrook 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±$24k 20% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Colebrook and Stafford 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Colebrook School District | 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 |
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.