What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

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

Measure	Gardner	Thompson
People
Population	21,148Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Lowest 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+	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest 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	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner and Thompson 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Gardner	Thompson School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.