Compare towns
Townsend vs Manchester vs Auburn
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 kids (21% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Manchester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
115,643Highest |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Auburn 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% |
15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Manchester 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Manchester 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. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 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.