Compare towns
Townsend vs Springfield vs Fitzwilliam
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
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 | Springfield | Fitzwilliam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
1,122Lowest |
2,278 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Fitzwilliam 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Springfield 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. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,173Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Springfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.