Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Upton vs Plainfield 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
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Upton | Plainfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
8,189Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lunenburg 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.