Compare towns
Townsend vs Chaplin vs Ashby vs Lunenburg
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Lunenburg has the most expensive homes ($464k 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 | Chaplin | Ashby | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,070Lowest |
3,211 |
11,902Highest |
| 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% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | North Middlesex | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 2 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.