What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Athol has the most kids (21.8% 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	Athol
People
Population	9,337Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athol 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.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Thompson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,150±$182Highest 19% 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	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Athol 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
School district	Thompson School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	11.6Highest
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.