What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham 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.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	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%	66.4%±16Highest 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%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 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.