What stands out worked out from the figures below

Attleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Attleboro	Townsend
People
Population	46,762Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Attleboro and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,954±$6kLowest 5% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,100±$13kHighest 20% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Attleboro and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,590±$83Highest 10% below MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Attleboro and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,366Lowest 10% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Attleboro 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	#185 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Attleboro	North Middlesex
High school in town	Attleboro High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	15.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.