What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Leominster	Townsend
People
Population	43,909Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Leominster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leominster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,256Lowest 12% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 10% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	10.9%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leominster 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	#233 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Leominster	North Middlesex
High school in town	Leominster High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	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.