Compare towns
Thompson vs Quinebaug vs Stafford
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 most expensive homes ($292k median).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Quinebaug | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
1,193Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
46.7±4.8Lowest 14% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 about the CT average |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
$93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— | $1,086±$85Highest 27% below CT |
| Stafford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.