Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Williston 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
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Williston | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
10,144 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lunenburg 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above 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±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.