What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Granby has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Granby
People
Population	9,100Highest	6,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	46.3±4.2Highest 16% above MA
	Granby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Granby 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 MA: 47.3%	36.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Granby 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±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$119,297±$33kLowest 15% above MA
	Townsend and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$352,600±$16kLowest 37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313 17% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,572Lowest 7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Granby 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 MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	23 minLowest 20% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend and Granby 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	#259 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Granby
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Granby Jr Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.