Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Unity vs Townsend vs Ashby
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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Unity | Townsend | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,375Lowest |
9,100 |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Unity and Ashby 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 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. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above 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. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below 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. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Unity School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.