What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the oldest population (median age 40.9).

New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).

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	New Ipswich
People
Population	9,100Highest	5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.	36.9±2.4Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	New Ipswich and Townsend 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%	12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$110,507±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$392,400±$31kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$882±$469Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Townsend and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$5,647Lowest 81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±41.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	New Ipswich 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	New Ipswich and Townsend 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	#82 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Mascenic Regional School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Mascenic Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.