Compare towns
Townsend vs Newfields vs Charlton
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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Newfields | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,023Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Charlton 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Townsend 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlton 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Charlton 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.