What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Townsend has the most affordable 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Boylston	Townsend
People
Population	4,948Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	Boylston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Boylston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	North Middlesex
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	13.1Highest
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.