Compare towns
Thompson vs Meriden vs Griswold
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 most people working from home (13.1%).
Meriden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Meriden | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
60,545Highest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Griswold 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Meriden and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Griswold 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.