Compare towns
Townsend vs Ashby vs Lunenburg vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Townsend | Ashby | Lunenburg | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
3,211Lowest |
11,902Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.