Compare towns
Thompson vs Peabody vs Canterbury
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 affordable homes ($292k median).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Peabody | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
54,695Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Canterbury 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% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Peabody 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. |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,065Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Thompson 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Peabody | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.