What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deerfield	Townsend
People
Population	5,158Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
	Townsend and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	North Middlesex
High school in town	Frontier Regional	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.