Compare towns
Townsend vs Durham 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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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.
| Measure | Townsend | Durham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
15,080Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% 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. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Oyster River High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.