Compare towns
Thompson vs Willimantic vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% 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.
| Measure | Thompson | Willimantic | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
18,096Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,086±$85Highest 27% below CT |
| Stafford and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,131Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Thompson 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Stafford 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 | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.