Compare towns
Charlton vs Douglas vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Charlton | Douglas | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
9,207Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617 48% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Douglas | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Douglas High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.