What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleborough	Townsend
People
Population	24,505Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Middleborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Middleborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Middleborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Lowest about the MA average	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middleborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Middleborough and Townsend 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleborough	North Middlesex
High school in town	Middleborough High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.