Compare towns
Newfields vs Mason vs Townsend vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Newfields | Mason | Townsend | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
1,451 |
9,100Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
| Mason and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Mason 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 | Newfields School District | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.