Compare towns
Newark vs Townsend vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Groton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Newark | Townsend | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
9,100Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Groton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 21% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark and Groton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.