Compare towns

Thompson vs Reading 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

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).

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.

MeasureThompsonReadingQuinebaug
People
Population
9,337
25,612Highest
1,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2
39% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Lowest
12% 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%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Lowest
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%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 #50 of 282 in MA —
School district Thompson School District Reading —
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Reading Memorial High —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
12.1Highest
—
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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.