Compare towns
Belvidere vs Guildhall vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Guildhall has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Belvidere | Guildhall | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 422 |
371Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Belvidere and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Belvidere 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 |
| School district | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

