Compare towns
Clinton vs Gardner 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
Clinton has the most expensive homes ($387k median).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Clinton | Gardner | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563 |
21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Clinton and Gardner 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Clinton | Gardner | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.