What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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	Lynnfield
People
Population	9,100Lowest	13,064Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	41.4±2.1Highest 4% above MA
	Lynnfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lynnfield 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%	17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lynnfield 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%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Lynnfield 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 17% above MA	$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lynnfield 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%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	32 minLowest 10% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#27 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Lynnfield
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Lynnfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.