Compare towns
Thompson vs Needham vs Griswold vs Columbia
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Needham | Griswold | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
32,459Highest |
11,530 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Columbia 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Columbia 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Needham | Griswold School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Needham High | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
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.