What stands out worked out from the figures below

Granby has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Granby	Townsend
People
Population	6,080Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±4.2Highest 16% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,297±$33kLowest 15% above MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,600±$16kLowest 37% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,469±$313 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,572Lowest 7% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest 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	23 minLowest 20% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend and Granby 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	#259 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Granby	North Middlesex
High school in town	Granby Jr Sr High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	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.