Compare towns
Thompson vs Upton vs Killingly 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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Upton | Killingly | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
8,189Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Stafford 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Killingly 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Killingly High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
11.1 |
9.8 |
| 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.