What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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	Townshend	Worcester
People
Population	1,538Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.	$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,364Highest 72% above U.S.	$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Worcester 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	—	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	8.1Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.