What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Framingham	Townsend
People
Population	72,399Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Framingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Framingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 15% above MA	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#229 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	North Middlesex
High school in town	Framingham High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.