Compare towns
Townsend vs Topsfield vs Uxbridge
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Uxbridge has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Topsfield | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
6,564Lowest |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| Topsfield and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Townsend 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Townsend 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,836Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Topsfield 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Topsfield | 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 Our Story | 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.