Compare towns
Strafford vs Townsend vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Strafford | Townsend | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Warren and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Warren and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | North Middlesex | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.