Compare towns
Townsend vs Lee vs Plaistow
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Lee | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
4,576Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend 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. |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% 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% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.