What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

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

Measure	East Bridgewater	Townsend
People
Population	14,456Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±2.2Highest 4% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend and East Bridgewater 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 MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,853±$9kHighest 29% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	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±$32kHighest 9% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,981±$671Highest 12% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,522Highest 9% above MA	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±20.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	17.3%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	East Bridgewater 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	#204 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	East Bridgewater	North Middlesex
High school in town	East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.