Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
14,449Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Pelham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.