Compare towns
Sandgate vs Townsend vs Rupert vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sandgate | Townsend | Rupert | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,100Highest |
676 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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 History | 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.