Compare towns
Thompson vs Killingly vs Needham 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Killingly | Needham | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Killingly 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% 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. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% 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. |
1965 15 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 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 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 | Needham | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Needham High | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
11.9Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.