Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
2,684Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$11k 9% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% 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±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Quabbin | 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.