Compare towns
Townsend vs Reading vs East Bridgewater
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Reading | East Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
699Lowest |
14,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and East Bridgewater 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Bridgewater 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and East Bridgewater 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$133,853±$9kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$510,200±$32kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,981±$671Highest 40% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,522Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and East Bridgewater 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and East Bridgewater 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 | — | #204 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | East Bridgewater |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| 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.