What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Hillsborough
People
Population	9,100Highest	5,980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3 5% above U.S.	40.9±4.6 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townsend and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Hillsborough 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 51% above U.S.	$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Townsend and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$5,815Lowest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hillsborough 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%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 41% above U.S.	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hillsborough 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	#97 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.