Compare towns
Townsend vs Needham vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lunenburg and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
| Needham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Needham | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Needham High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.