What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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	Hopkinton	Townsend
People
Population	6,037Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hopkinton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hopkinton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hopkinton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$137,477±$21kHighest 70% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S.
	Hopkinton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Hopkinton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopkinton School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Hopkinton High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.