Compare towns

Thompson vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).

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.

MeasureThompsonMiddlesexGriswold
People
Population
9,337
1,943Lowest
11,530Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% 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%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Middlesex 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%
54.7%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%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Thompson 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.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Middlesex 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.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
Middlesex and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #130 of 149 in CT — #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School None in town Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
—
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.