What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Nashua	Townsend
People
Population	91,294Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Nashua and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest 118% above U.S.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashua School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Nashua High School South	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.