Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Townsend vs Dalton
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 the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 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 | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
9,100Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,561 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Dalton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.