What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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	Sturbridge
People
Population	9,337Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge 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±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Highest	7.7Lowest
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.