Compare towns
Townsend vs Exeter vs Uxbridge vs Charlton
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Uxbridge | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,473 |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Charlton 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge 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±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$441,100±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Uxbridge 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,555±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Uxbridge 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #183 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Uxbridge | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | Uxbridge High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.6 |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.