Compare towns
Townsend vs Ayer vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Ayer | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,645Lowest |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2.8Highest 4% above MA |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Ayer 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 17% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$124,725±$7kHighest 20% above MA |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Ayer and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Uxbridge 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.