Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Woonsocket vs Townsend 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%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Townsend | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
43,521Highest |
9,100Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Douglas 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Douglas 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Middlesex | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Woonsocket High School | North Middlesex Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
15.2Highest |
13.1 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.