Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Townsend vs Unity 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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Townsend | Unity | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
9,100 |
1,375Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below 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. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Unity 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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 41% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | Unity School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
13.1Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.