Compare towns
Thompson vs Windham vs Griswold vs Columbia
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
19,188Highest |
11,530 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Columbia 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Windham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Windham and Griswold 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$5,228Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #118 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | RSU 14 | Griswold School District | Columbia 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 |
12.1Highest |
11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.