Compare towns
Thompson vs Hamden vs Plainfield vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Hamden | Plainfield | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Hamden 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
| Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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.