Compare towns
Newfields vs Pembroke vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Townsend has the youngest 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.
| Measure | Newfields | Pembroke | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
7,438 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Pembroke 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newfields School District | Pembroke School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.