Compare towns
Proctor vs Townsend vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Proctor | Townsend | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586 |
9,100Highest |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,060±$12k 7% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,000±$20kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$200 25% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.4%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Proctor 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.