What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% 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	Middleborough	Thompson
People
Population	24,505Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleborough and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Middleborough	Thompson School District
High school in town	Middleborough High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.