Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Atkinson vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Lunenburg | Atkinson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
7,267Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Timberlane Regional School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.