Compare towns
Thompson vs Halifax vs Plainfield vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Halifax | Plainfield | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
7,748 |
15,141Highest |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Quinebaug 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. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Halifax 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Halifax | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.