Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert 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
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Ira | Rupert | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert and Townsend 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 | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school 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.