Compare towns
New Salem vs Townsend vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | New Salem | Townsend | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054 |
9,100Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4 39% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Townsend and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
— |
| Townsend and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,509 25% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem and Washington 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 | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school 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 |
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.