Compare towns
Thompson vs Griswold 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Griswold has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Griswold | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
11,530Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.1±3.9Lowest 17% 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% |
18.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Griswold and Columbia 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,177±$65Highest 21% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Griswold and Thompson 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 |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Thompson 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% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
31 minLowest 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Griswold School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| 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.