Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Townsend vs White River Junction
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 highest household income ($122k).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
9,100 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below 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 | $6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% 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% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Lunenburg | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
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.