What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phillipston has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Phillipston	Townsend
People
Population	1,895Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Phillipston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,692±$14kLowest 9% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,400±$27kLowest 34% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$849Lowest 22% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 35% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend and Phillipston 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 Our Story	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.