Compare towns

Douglas vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($152k).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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.

MeasureDouglasSpringfieldThompson
People
Population
9,207
1,122Lowest
9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
51.4±8.8
32% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Thompson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Springfield 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%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Thompson 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.
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Douglas and Springfield 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.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Springfield 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 — Thompson School District
High school in town Douglas High School — 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

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.