Compare towns
Thompson vs Sutton vs Gardner
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Sutton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
9,452 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Gardner 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Gardner 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sutton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.6 |
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.