Compare towns
Townsend vs Barnard vs Middlesex 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 most renters (18% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Barnard | Middlesex | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,943 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Brookline 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% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% 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% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Barnard 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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 | — | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.