Compare towns
Thompson vs Killingly vs Hanover vs Stafford
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
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 | Killingly | Hanover | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
17,867Highest |
14,845 |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Hanover 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Thompson 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #69 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.8 |
| 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.