Compare towns
Carver vs Townsend vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Leicester has the shortest commute (27 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 | Carver | Townsend | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712Highest |
9,100Lowest |
11,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 15% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
| Carver and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$105,173±$9k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21kHighest 23% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA |
| Carver and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,487±$258 16% below MA |
| Carver and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455Highest 8% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Carver and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Carver and Leicester 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | North Middlesex | Leicester |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | North Middlesex Regional | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.