What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fitchburg has the most renters (45.9% rent).

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Fitchburg	Lunenburg
People
Population	41,798Highest	11,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.3±2Lowest 9% below MA	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lunenburg and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lunenburg and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,040±$5kLowest 30% below MA	$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,400±$11kLowest 40% below MA	$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$89Lowest 31% below MA	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,456Lowest 26% below MA	$6,401Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.9%±5.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fitchburg and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lunenburg and Fitchburg 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	#249 of 282 in MA	#87 of 282 in MA
School district	Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Lunenburg
High school in town	Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.4Highest
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.