Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Becket vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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.
| Measure | Lunenburg | Becket | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,962Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
36 minLowest 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Becket 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Central Berkshire | 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 |
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.