What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).

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	Milton	Thompson
People
Population	28,587Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Milton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Highest 210% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#55 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Milton	Thompson School District
High school in town	Milton High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	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.