Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Hanson 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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Hanson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
10,660 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Hanson 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 9% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Hanson 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 17% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.