Compare towns

Thompson vs Ware 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 highest household income ($94k).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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.

MeasureThompsonWareGriswold
People
Population
9,337Lowest
10,048
11,530Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
43.1±4.7Lowest
11% 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%
19.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Ware 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%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%
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware 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±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24kHighest
12% below U.S.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Thompson and Ware 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.
$1,043±$109
26% below U.S.
$1,177±$65Highest
17% below U.S.
Griswold and Ware 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.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,628Highest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #118 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Ware Griswold School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.1
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.