Compare towns
Unity vs Townsend vs Jefferson
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 most affordable homes ($276k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Unity | Townsend | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
9,100Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Jefferson 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% 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±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — |
| School district | Unity School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| 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.