Compare towns
Thompson vs Spencer vs Canterbury
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 most affordable homes ($292k median).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Spencer | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
12,008Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Spencer and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Canterbury 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% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Canterbury 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Spencer 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. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Spencer 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Canterbury 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.