What stands out worked out from the figures below

Loudon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Loudon	Townsend
People
Population	5,692Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Loudon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,966±$16kLowest 32% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,400±$48kLowest 9% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,821Lowest 87% above U.S.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±30.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townsend and Loudon 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	#99 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.