Compare towns
Thompson vs Gardner vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Gardner | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
21,148Highest |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% 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 | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Gardner 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 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.