What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leicester	Townsend
People
Population	11,113Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Leicester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leicester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Leicester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,173±$9kLowest about the MA average	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
	Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Leicester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,452Lowest 26% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Leicester 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leicester 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	#222 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Leicester	North Middlesex
High school in town	Leicester High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.