Compare towns

Windham vs Boylston vs Townshend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Boylston has the most expensive homes ($579k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasureWindhamBoylstonTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
4,948Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.2±2.3
24% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Boylston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Boylston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$140,962±$28kHighest
75% above U.S.
$78,750±$29kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$578,600±$47kHighest
74% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,032±$350Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$7,266Highest
133% above U.S.
$5,364Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.7
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Boylston 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 — #72 of 282 in MA —
School district — Berlin-Boylston West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — Tahanto Regional High Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
8.1Lowest
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.