Compare towns
Thompson vs Sprague vs Plainville
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 homeowners (84.3%).
Sprague has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sprague | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
2,962Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Thompson and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Thompson and Sprague 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 |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Thompson and Sprague 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 |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sprague School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.