Compare towns
East Bridgewater vs Hampstead 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
East Bridgewater has the highest household income ($134k).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | East Bridgewater | Hampstead | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,456Highest |
9,102 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,853±$9kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,200±$32k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,981±$671Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,522 109% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and East Bridgewater 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 | #204 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | East Bridgewater | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.