What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Boylston
People
Population	9,100Highest	4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston 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 MA: 47.3%	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA
	Boylston 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	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA
	Boylston and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest about the MA average	$7,266Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#72 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.