Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Lancaster 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 affordable homes ($238k median).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Thompson has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,193Lowest |
8,606 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Quinebaug 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Quinebaug 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.