Compare towns
Thompson vs Sterling vs Quinebaug
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 expensive homes ($292k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Sterling | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
3,629 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$12k 7% above CT |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Sterling 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% 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 | $3,822 42% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug 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 | #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 | 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.