Compare towns
Thompson vs Sutton vs Exeter vs Griswold
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Sutton | Exeter | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
9,452 |
16,151Highest |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Exeter 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Griswold 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Exeter 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sutton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Exeter High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.