Compare towns
Thompson vs Topsfield vs Quinebaug
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 renters (15.7% rent).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Topsfield | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
6,564 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsfield 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. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Highest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Topsfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Topsfield 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Quinebaug 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Topsfield | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.