Compare towns
Townsend vs Lee vs Lancaster
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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lee | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
4,576Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.