Compare towns
Townsend vs Stow vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Stow | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,165Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Stow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Lunenburg 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg 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 17% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 minLowest 23% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Nashoba | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.