Compare towns
Thompson vs Hampden vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
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 | Hampden | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
7,896 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Canterbury and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,140Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Canterbury 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Canterbury 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | RSU 22 | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.