Compare towns
Douglas vs Thompson vs Worcester
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 kids (21.2% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Thompson | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,337Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Worcester 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Douglas 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Worcester 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| 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.