Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Temple vs Douglas
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%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Temple | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,363Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Temple and Douglas 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Temple 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Douglas 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Temple 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Contoocook Valley School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.