Compare towns

Litchfield vs Townsend vs Lee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

MeasureLitchfieldTownsendLee
People
Population
8,499
9,100Highest
4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$162,036±$11kHighest
101% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,000±$18kHighest
46% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,138±$406Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
—
Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,273
165% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
81.5%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Litchfield 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 #53 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA #3 of 120 in NH
School district Litchfield School District North Middlesex Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town Campbell High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
13.1Highest
—
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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.