What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Townsend	Alton
People
Population	9,100Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Townsend and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Townsend and Alton 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	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton and Townsend 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.