Compare towns
Townsend vs Mason vs Uxbridge vs Lunenburg
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Mason | Uxbridge | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,451Lowest |
14,473Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lunenburg 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Uxbridge 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. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$441,100±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Uxbridge 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. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,555±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lunenburg 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
36 minLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Uxbridge 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 | — | #183 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mason School District | Uxbridge | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Uxbridge High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.