Compare towns
Thompson vs Union vs Sturbridge 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
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 | Union | Sturbridge | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
944Lowest |
9,960 |
11,530Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%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% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Sturbridge 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Griswold 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Union School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.