Compare towns

Mashpee vs Townsend vs Popponesset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Popponesset has the most people working from home (27.6%).

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.

MeasureMashpeeTownsendPopponesset
People
Population
15,384Highest
9,100
563Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
45.3±25
13% above MA
Mashpee and Popponesset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
5.9%±7.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24%±12.5
MA: 17.9%
Mashpee and Popponesset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
71.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
1.1%±3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Townsend and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,299±$13kLowest
8% below MA
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$102,357±$54k
about the MA average
Townsend and Popponesset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$562,200±$29k
about the MA average
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
$720,900±$324kHighest
28% above MA
Popponesset and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,776±$330Highest
about the MA average
$1,469±$313Lowest
17% below MA
—
Mashpee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,762Lowest
37% below MA
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,200
30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±14.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
100%±35.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Popponesset and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
82.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
6% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
14.5%±3
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.6%±33.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Popponesset and Mashpee 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 #100 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Mashpee North Middlesex —
High school in town Mashpee Middle-High School North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
13.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.