What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).

Townsend has the oldest population (median age 40.9).

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.

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

Measure	New Ipswich	Townsend
People
Population	5,310Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±2.4Lowest 5% below U.S.	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	New Ipswich and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Highest 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%
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,507±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$31kLowest 18% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$469Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,647Lowest 81% above U.S.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±41.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	New Ipswich and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	New Ipswich 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	#82 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Mascenic Regional School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Mascenic Regional High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	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.