Compare towns
Thompson vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
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 | Spencer | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
12,008Highest |
11,511 |
| 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. |
46.7±4.8Lowest 20% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% 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% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Stafford 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. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Spencer 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,131Highest 65% 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% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | David Prouty High | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.