Compare towns

Townsend vs Uxbridge vs Walpole

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).
Uxbridge has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

MeasureTownsendUxbridgeWalpole
People
Population
9,100Lowest
14,473
26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
41.7±2.8Highest
4% above MA
40.9±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
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
MA: 19.4%
19.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Walpole 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
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
38%
MA: 47.3%
67.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23kLowest
17% above MA
$124,725±$7k
20% above MA
$171,500±$16kHighest
65% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
$441,100±$25k
22% below MA
$687,100±$20kHighest
22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313Lowest
17% below MA
$1,555±$265
12% below MA
$2,205±$222Highest
25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
about the MA average
$5,836Lowest
about the MA average
$8,523Highest
42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
25.6%±5.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
37.8%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
Townsend and Walpole 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%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
27% above MA
37 min
26% above MA
34 minLowest
15% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
28.2%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 282 in MA #183 of 282 in MA #107 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Uxbridge Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town North Middlesex Regional Uxbridge High Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.6
11.3Lowest
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.