Compare towns
Thompson vs Hamden vs Plainfield vs Stafford
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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
11,511 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer 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%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.3 |
9.8 |
| 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.