What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Thompson
People
Population	9,100Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Townsend and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Townsend and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	North Middlesex	Thompson School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.