Compare towns

Windham vs Lowell 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 highest household income ($95k).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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.

MeasureWindhamLowellTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
118,368Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend and Windham 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%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lowell 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%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,499Lowest
44% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Windham 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 — #255 of 282 in MA —
School district — Lowell West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — Lowell High Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
8.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.