Compare towns
Townsend vs Auburn vs Chichester
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).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k 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 | Townsend | Auburn | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
6,119 |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Chichester 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chichester and Townsend 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% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn 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. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Auburn 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. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$7,189 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and Townsend 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Chichester 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Auburn School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.