Compare towns
Thompson vs Needham vs Quinebaug 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Quinebaug has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Quinebaug | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
32,459Highest |
1,193Lowest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% 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% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 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 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Quinebaug 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Needham | — | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Needham High | — | Griswold High School |
| 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.