What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Worcester
People
Population	9,100Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
	Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Worcester and Townsend 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.