Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Maynard 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%).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Maynard | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
10,712 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Maynard | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Maynard High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
9.7Lowest |
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.