Compare towns
Townsend vs Harvard vs Paxton
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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Paxton has the shortest commute (31 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Harvard | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
6,927 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Paxton 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Paxton 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Townsend and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Harvard | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.