Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Townsend vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bloomfield | Townsend | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
9,100Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±12 8% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bloomfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13k 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$63kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800 10% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #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.