What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most kids (16.9% 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	North Brookfield	Thompson
People
Population	4,760Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Brookfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Brookfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S.
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 34% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%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	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#270 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	North Brookfield	Thompson School District
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	7.9Highest
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.