What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	Lunenburg	Thompson
People
Population	11,902Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lunenburg and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 105% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Lunenburg	Thompson School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	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.