Compare towns

Thompson vs Westminster vs Plainfield vs Quinebaug

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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.

MeasureThompsonWestminsterPlainfieldQuinebaug
People
Population
9,337
8,374
15,141Highest
1,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+12.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2
39% above U.S.
48.3±4.6
24% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Plainfield 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%
26%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug and Westminster 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%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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±$18k
16% above U.S.
$106,331±$22kHighest
32% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
Westminster and Quinebaug 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.
$422,000±$36kHighest
27% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$4,973Highest
59% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster 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%
2.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Quinebaug 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 #112 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT —
School district Thompson School District Ashburnham-Westminster Plainfield School District —
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Oakmont Regional High School Plainfield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
13.6Highest
10.3
—
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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.