What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thompson	Sterling
People
Population	9,337Highest	3,629Lowest
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT	39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%	13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	18%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	3.7%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1%
	Sterling and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average	$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT
	Sterling 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±$24kHighest 20% below CT	$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT
	Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344 32% below CT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT	$4,551Highest 31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%	32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Sterling 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%	8.3%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above CT	35 minHighest 34% above CT
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%	11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Thompson and Sterling 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	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Thompson School District	Sterling School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.