Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Gardner vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Quinebaug | Gardner | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,193Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Gardner | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.