Compare towns
Lempster vs Townsend vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Lempster | Townsend | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 46% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Stoddard 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 | Lempster School District | North Middlesex | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| 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.