Compare towns
Townsend vs Newfields vs Lunenburg vs Ashby
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 the highest household income ($198k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Lunenburg | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,023Lowest |
11,902Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 51% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% 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% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Ashby 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.