Compare towns
Webster vs Townsend vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Webster | Townsend | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
9,100Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.2±12.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$89,375±$27kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$313,400±$26kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,203Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.