Compare towns
Groton vs Townsend vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Groton | Townsend | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
9,100Lowest |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Highest 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.1Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
| Groton and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Lynnfield 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | North Middlesex Regional | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
13.1 |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.