Compare towns
Townsend vs Windham vs Kingston
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 affordable homes ($433k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Windham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
16,038Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Townsend 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Kingston 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.