Compare towns
Unity vs Townsend vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 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 | Unity | Townsend | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
9,100Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,143Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Unity 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 | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.