Compare towns
Wallingford vs Thomaston vs Wallingford Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Wallingford Center has the most renters (39.6% rent).
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 | Wallingford | Thomaston | Wallingford Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
7,492Lowest |
18,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.6±4.4Lowest 4% below CT |
| Wallingford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wallingford Center and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5kHighest 9% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$89,959±$8kLowest 6% below CT |
| Wallingford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8kHighest 4% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$319,200±$11k 13% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84Highest 8% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,336±$102 10% below CT |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963Highest 10% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$5,264Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.8%±11.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
12.9%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Wallingford and Wallingford Center 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Thomaston School District | — |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Thomaston High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.