Compare towns
Townsend vs Hardwick vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,684Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Quabbin | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.