Townsend station postcard, 1901–1907
Townsend’s story
350 years in pictures
Census counts: 993 in 1790, 9,127 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1901 and 7 maps from 1893 on.
- 1676Townsend is settled
Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domain
Population
9,143
2025 Census estimate · +0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$505K
+1.6% in a year
Household income
$122K
median
Median age
40.9
years
Jobs based here
1,823
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#119 of 282 in MA
Is Townsend a good place to live?
Townsend's standout: it has 77 miles of trail. Overall it grades B+, ranked 119th of 282 in Massachusetts. It is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 78% of U.S. towns. Townsend’s trail density is 2.4 miles per square mile, against 1.8 in Massachusetts’ towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Townsend State Forest, 3,157 acres with 23.7 miles of trail. On history, just 18 of Massachusetts’ 325 towns do worse.
What makes Townsend stand out
Where Townsend beats most towns.
How Townsend grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Massachusetts), ordered by how far Townsend is from typical.
HealthUmass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals 8.9 miles awayA−Open →SafetyA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →SchoolsBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.6 of 20; 2.4% of households have no car; 2.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Jobs & income$122K median household income; 1,823 jobs based hereB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors24% conserved landA+Open →History3 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life12.9 library visits per resident; 4.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.9; 36% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Townsend: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Townsend, and how to reach them.
PowerMassachusetts Bay Trans AuthorityEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterTownsend Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Massachusetts you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTownsend Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes01469, 0147401469 77% · 01474 23%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Townsend.
Townsend is safe by national standards but not by Massachusetts’s and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in Massachusetts; it also has commutes longer than most of Massachusetts.
#92for trails in MA
23.6%
conserved · 4,954 of 20,972 acres
77 mi
of trails · 2.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Townsend State Forest | 23.7 mi | 3,157 |
| 2. Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area | 5.2 mi | 797 |
| 3. Hunting Hills Wildlife Management Area | 3.8 mi | 286 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
Public schools in Townsend beat 58% of Massachusetts districts
Its public schools are run by the North Middlesex school district. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is North Middlesex Regional, with 711 students.
58%of MA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne BrookLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 449 | B− |
| North Middlesex RegionalLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 711 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
For health, Townsend earns an A−
Within Massachusetts it is less healthy than 57% of the 279 graded towns: Massachusetts sets a high bar. Against the 5,522 U.S. towns with household incomes like Townsend’s, it is healthier than 63%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
27% of Townsend adults have been diagnosed with depression, above both Massachusetts’ towns (24%) and U.S. towns (23%). Townsend beats the Massachusetts average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 31% of Townsend adults have high blood pressure.
84%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Townsend | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 24% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 28% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.2% | 9.3% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Massachusetts
5 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Townsend | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.7% | 12.4% |
| More adults with depression | 27.2% | 23.8% |
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals
8.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
43rd
percentile among MA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyA−
For safety, Townsend earns an A−
At 8.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 63% of Massachusetts’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 8 reported in 2025, 0.9 per 1,000 residents.
The property crime rate in Townsend is 3.1 per 1,000 residents.
78%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Townsend | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.1 per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.9 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Townsend0.9
Massachusetts3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Townsend3.1
Massachusetts10.4
U.S.15.5
78th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
63rd
percentile among MA towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
29
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of Townsend’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
The average commute for its 4,637 working residents takes 37.1 minutes, against 29.1 across Massachusetts.
Most working residents leave Townsend for work: only 8% work in town. Townsend’s average trip to work is 37 minutes. The top destinations are Boston (7%), Leominster (4%) and Fitchburg (3%).
8%work in town
| Townsend | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $122,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 11% | 18% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Townsend8%
Boston7%
Leominster4%
Fitchburg3%
Groton3%
21 mi
median commute distance
1,823
jobs based in Townsend
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Townsend faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 15 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Townsend.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesDrought
15
paid flood claims since 1979
13
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C+
Townsend’s typical home value is about $505K
The typical Townsend home is worth about $505,000, up 1.6% in a year, 23% below the Massachusetts typical home. 82% of households own their home in Townsend.
$505KZillow home value
| Townsend | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 79% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,469 a month | $1,683 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Townsend$505K
Massachusetts$655K
+1.6%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Townsend, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Townsend has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 15° and about 57 inches of snow falls in a winter.
57″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–36°
Spring35–58°
Summer58–81°
Fall40–62°
Oct 9
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 232 attractions →Fenway Park and 136 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Townsend. Close and well known come first.
Big draw38 mi Stadium & arenaFenway Park
Big draw39 mi MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 mi LakeWalden Pond
24 mi MountainMount Monadnock
40 mi AttractionFreedom Trail
36 mi Stadium & arenaHarvard StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fenway Park: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Sean Dungan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Walden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Freedom Trail: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Harvard Stadium: Nick Allen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Townsend
20pages on Townsend
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of MA districts · 4 schoolsSafetyA−0.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than MA on 5 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$505K typical home · up 1.6% in a yearWork & commuteB−$122K median household income · 1,823 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Townsend
Fitchburg State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Fitchburg6.6 mi$11,346 in-state tuitionNashua Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Nashua, NH13.1 mi$7,140 in-state tuitionSt Joseph School of NursingCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Nashua, NH13.2 mi$23,438 tuition
About 5 of every 100 Townsend residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Townsend for work
Where Townsend’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,823jobs based in Townsend
8%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Townsend
3 notable people were born in Townsend.
About Townsend
Town in Massachusetts, United States
Townsend is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,127 at the 2020 census. It contains the census-designated place of the same name.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1676
- Area
- 33 sq mi
- Elevation
- 315 ft
- ZIP code
- 01469
Townsend’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Townsend.
PepperellLunenburgBrooklineAshbyTownsend
Questions about Townsend
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Townsend, MA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Townsend grades B+ overall, better than 72% of U.S. towns and #119 of 282 in Massachusetts. It grades A− for health, A− for safety and B for schools.
Is Townsend, MA expensive?
That is 4.4 years of the area's median household income ($115,863 across the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is Townsend, MA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Rolland H. Spaulding and Daniel Adams.