Compare towns
Thompson vs Windham vs Griswold vs Canterbury
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Windham | Griswold | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
23,961Highest |
11,530 |
5,124Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,177±$65Highest 21% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Griswold and Windham 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 |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Griswold School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windham High School | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.8 |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.