Compare towns
Florida vs Townsend vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Florida | Townsend | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668 |
9,100Highest |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Townsend and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Peru 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 | Florida | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.