Compare towns
Thompson vs Princeton vs Stafford
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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Princeton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
3,529Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.1±7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Stafford 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% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stafford 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. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Thompson 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. |
$6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #59 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Wachusett | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.