Compare towns

Thompson vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Griswold

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.

MeasureThompsonKillinglyLancasterGriswold
People
Population
9,337
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
11,530
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
Thompson and Griswold 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Lancaster 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%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Lancaster 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±$8k
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Lancaster 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
12% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Griswold 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #130 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Killingly High School None in town Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.1
—
11.5Highest
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.