Compare towns
Thompson vs Sutton vs Hanson 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 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 | Sutton | Hanson | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
9,452 |
10,660 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Stafford 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hanson 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.