Compare towns

Groton vs Rumney vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Rumney has the most renters (22.2% rent).
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.

MeasureGrotonRumneyTownsend
People
Population
507Lowest
1,458
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±16.2Highest
31% above U.S.
44.5±2.3
14% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Groton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.4%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Groton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,625±$21k
6% above U.S.
$79,444±$21kLowest
about the U.S. average
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,000±$45kLowest
19% below U.S.
$309,800±$37k
7% below U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,667±$295Highest
89% above U.S.
$1,064±$100Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,873Lowest
8% below U.S.
$4,716
51% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±83.6
U.S.: 51.1%
48.1%±21.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rumney and Groton 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 — Rumney School District 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

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.