Compare towns
Thompson vs Athol vs Griswold
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 most people working from home (13.1%).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Athol | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
12,011Highest |
11,530 |
| 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. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold 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±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Athol 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. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% 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% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Athol-Royalston | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Athol High | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.