What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	9,100Lowest	10,681Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.	20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Townsend and Durham 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.	$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S.
	Durham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Townsend and Durham 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Townsend 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	—
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.