Compare towns
Townsend vs Plaistow vs Pelham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Plaistow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,861Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Townsend 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and Townsend 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Timberlane Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.