Compare towns
Gardner vs Thompson vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Gardner | Thompson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,551 |
| 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. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Gardner 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% 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±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Thompson School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.