Compare towns
Hatfield vs Lunenburg vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Hatfield | Lunenburg | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
11,902Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hatfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and Lunenburg 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.4 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.