Compare towns
Cornish vs Lunenburg vs Townsend vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.
| Measure | Cornish | Lunenburg | Townsend | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
11,902Highest |
9,100 |
2,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg and Cornish 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cornish School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.