Compare towns
Thompson vs Exeter vs Upton 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Exeter | Upton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
16,151Highest |
8,189Lowest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Exeter High School | Blackstone Valley | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.