What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlton	Thompson
People
Population	13,435Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±4Lowest 11% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest 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%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%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Charlton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Charlton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Highest 48% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Charlton 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Thompson School District
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.