Compare towns
Townsend vs Windham vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
16,038Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%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% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% 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% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.