Compare towns
Thompson vs Harwinton 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).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Harwinton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
5,575Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.1±4.3Lowest 12% above CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Harwinton 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% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Harwinton 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Stafford 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 |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$352,100±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Harwinton 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Regional School District 10 | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.