Compare towns
Thompson vs Orange 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Orange | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
14,315Highest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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 about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Thompson 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 |
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.