What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thompson	West Haven
People
Population	9,337Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
	Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
	Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above CT	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Thompson and West Haven 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	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Thompson School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	15.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.