Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ogunquit vs Shirley 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 the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Ogunquit | Shirley | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,976 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | — | Ayer Shirley 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 | 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.