Compare towns

Thompson vs Smithfield vs Griswold

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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.

MeasureThompsonSmithfieldGriswold
People
Population
9,337Lowest
22,233Highest
11,530
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
48.1±3.9
24% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Griswold and Smithfield 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%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Smithfield 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%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Smithfield 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±$24k
12% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,016±$241
28% below U.S.
$1,177±$65Highest
17% below U.S.
Griswold and Smithfield 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.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Smithfield Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Smithfield High School Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.8Highest
11.5
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.