Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Townsend vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Brookline | Marshfield | Townsend | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$20k 5% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,125±$79Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Brookline 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 | 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.