Compare towns
Buckland vs Townsend vs Gill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Buckland | Townsend | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036 |
9,100Highest |
1,740Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Buckland and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6kLowest 20% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
| Townsend and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761 21% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,318Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill and Buckland 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 | Mohawk Trail | North Middlesex | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.