What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

North Brookfield has the most kids (16.9% 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	North Brookfield
People
Population	9,337Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and North Brookfield 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%	16.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Brookfield and Thompson 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%	18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Brookfield 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.	$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S.	$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Thompson and North Brookfield 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.	$4,176Highest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and North Brookfield 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%	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.3%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 minLowest 20% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#130 of 149 in CT	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	North Brookfield
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Highest	5.5Lowest
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.