Compare towns
Townsend vs Epping vs Brookline 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).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Epping | Brookline | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,430 |
5,736Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Lunenburg 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Lunenburg 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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. |
$6,936 122% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Brookline School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.4 |
| 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.