Compare towns
Townsend vs Sheldon vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Sheldon | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,267Lowest |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Uxbridge 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$441,100±$25kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,555±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Uxbridge and Sheldon 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 | — | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.