What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

Gardner has the most kids (18.3% 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	Gardner
People
Population	9,337Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Gardner 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%	23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner 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.	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Gardner and Thompson 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.	$1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S.
	Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,150Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Gardner 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%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Gardner
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.