Compare towns

Acushnet vs Townsend vs Leicester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acushnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Leicester has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasureAcushnetTownsendLeicester
People
Population
10,624
9,100Lowest
11,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.8Highest
15% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
42.4±3.5
6% above MA
Acushnet and Leicester 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%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Townsend and Acushnet 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.9%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
31%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Leicester 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±$9kLowest
14% below MA
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$105,173±$9k
about the MA average
Townsend and Leicester 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
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$413,100±$23kLowest
27% 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±$354Lowest
34% below MA
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
$1,487±$258Highest
16% below MA
Leicester and Townsend 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
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,452Lowest
26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.4%±15.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±14.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1965Lowest
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
Work from home
10.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
13.1%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Leicester 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 #136 of 282 in MA #222 of 282 in MA
School district Acushnet North Middlesex Leicester
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional Leicester High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.