Compare towns
Thompson vs Griswold vs Plainfield 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 renters (26.7% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Plainfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
11,530 |
15,141Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Griswold 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%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%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% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Columbia 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±$11k 18% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% 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±$42k 25% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Plainfield and Griswold 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 |
$4,209 37% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 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% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Griswold School District | Plainfield School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Griswold High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.