Compare towns
Thompson vs Athol vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.
| Measure | Thompson | Athol | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
8,801 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173Highest 21% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Athol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,140Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Thompson 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| 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 | 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.