Compare towns
Croydon vs Grantham vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Townsend has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Croydon | Grantham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 798Lowest |
3,465 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grantham and Townsend 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Croydon School District | Grantham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.