Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Dunbarton 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%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Dunbarton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
3,097Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Dunbarton 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.