Compare towns
Thompson vs Saugus 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).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Saugus | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
28,773Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% 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% |
15.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Saugus 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% |
22%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Saugus 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. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Saugus 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Saugus | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Saugus High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
— |
| 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.