Compare towns
Townsend vs Webster vs Sutton vs Brookline
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 the most renters (18% rent).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
2,227Lowest |
2,239 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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 51% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Webster 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 | — | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Merrimack Valley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.