Compare towns

Thompson vs Acton vs Quinebaug

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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.

MeasureThompsonActonQuinebaug
People
Population
9,337
24,155Highest
1,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2
39% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
56.5±1Highest
45% 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
11.4%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
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+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$158,230±$14kHighest
96% above U.S.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,986±$155Highest
41% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,703Lowest
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Acton 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 #130 of 149 in CT #13 of 282 in MA —
School district Thompson School District Acton-Boxborough —
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
13.5Highest
—
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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.