Compare towns
Townsend vs Ossipee vs Lunenburg
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 highest household income ($122k).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Ossipee | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
4,521Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.