Compare towns
Townsend vs Cornwall vs Lunenburg vs Pepperell
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 affordable homes ($433k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Cornwall | Lunenburg | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,208Lowest |
11,902Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Pepperell 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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 30% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg 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. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Pepperell 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.