What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (21.7% 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	Lowell	Thompson
People
Population	118,368Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 44% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Lowell	Thompson School District
High school in town	Lowell High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.