Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Townsend vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Fitzwilliam | Townsend | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278 |
9,100Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
37 minLowest 41% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.