What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Somerset has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Somerset
People
Population	9,100Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Somerset 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 17% above MA	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
	Townsend and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
	Townsend and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
	Townsend and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,977Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset 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 MA: 10%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Somerset 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	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.