Compare towns
Townsend vs Newfields vs Epping vs Brookline
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 renters (18% rent).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Epping | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,430 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Newfields 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% 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% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Epping School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.