What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).

Adams has the most kids (15.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thompson	Adams
People
Population	9,337Highest	8,074Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	47.3±3.3Lowest 22% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Adams and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Adams 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Adams 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±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.	$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S.	$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S.	$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Thompson and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.	$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Adams and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Adams 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	#230 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9	—
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.