Compare towns
Acushnet vs Fall River vs Townsend vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the oldest population (median age 46).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Acushnet | Fall River | Townsend | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,624 |
94,082Highest |
9,100Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Acushnet and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9k 14% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34kHighest 22% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | Oxford |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | North Middlesex Regional | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
13.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.