Compare towns
Douglas vs Heath vs Rowe 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
Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Thompson has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Douglas | Heath | Rowe | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
765 |
453Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,313±$576 7% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | — | Rowe | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | — | 7.9Highest |
| 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.