Compare towns
Belvidere vs Townsend vs Waterville
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 homeowners (86.1%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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.
| Measure | Belvidere | Townsend | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 422Lowest |
9,100Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 28% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
37 minLowest 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| 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.