stuck thermostat?

first time i got the duster out this year, and it was running hot

(reading about 240 on the stock gauge)

when i came home i hit the whole thing with a infra red thermometer
the bottom hose on the radiator was 170
the top hose, near the radiator was 220 and near the thermostat it read 240

when i squeezed the top hose, it felt solid, no give in the hose

and not admitting i did this, but if i were to have pulled the radiator cap of coolant would have shot up like a mentos in a two liter and hit the hood and the ceiling


so, long story short, does this sound like the thermostat is stuck closed, or should i look for some other issue?