Compare towns
Devens vs Lunenburg vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Townsend has the most affordable 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 | Devens | Lunenburg | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
11,902Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Devens and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Devens and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Devens and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Lunenburg 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 |
| School district | — | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school 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 | 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.