Compare towns
Thompson vs Plainfield vs Lancaster vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Quinebaug has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Plainfield | Lancaster | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
15,141Highest |
8,606 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest 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% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Quinebaug 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.