Compare towns
Newfields vs Townsend vs Pembroke
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Townsend | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
9,100Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | North Middlesex | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Pembroke Academy |
| 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.