What are the schools like in Townsend, MA?

Townsend is served primarily by North Middlesex. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Townsend?

The median household income in Townsend, MA is $61,546 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Townsend, MA?

Townsend has an average high temperature of 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.4 inches.

Townsend, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Townsend, MA affordable or expensive?

Townsend's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Townsend is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $340,500 and the median rent is $953 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Townsend, MA?

Townsend has a violent crime rate of 109.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 481.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Townsend, MA a Good Place to Live?

Townsend is a small town of 1,131 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $61,546 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Townsend stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes. Whether Townsend is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Townsend city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Townsend's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Townsend costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Townsend, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$340,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$953	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,546	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Townsend's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

109.4 /100k

Property Crime

481.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Townsend is served primarily by North Middlesex. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Townsend, MA	National Avg
School District	North Middlesex	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	34.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Townsend sees average highs of 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July, with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation and 75.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Townsend, MA
Average High — January	33.5°F
Average High — July	80.6°F
Annual Precipitation	49.6"
Annual Snowfall	75.4"

Demographics

Metric	Townsend, MA	National Avg
Population	1,131	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	3.6%	6.3%
Under 18	25.7%	22.2%
65 and over	14.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lunenburg, MA 6 mi Pepperell, MA 6 mi Fitchburg, MA 7 mi East Pepperell, MA 8 mi Greenville, NH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Townsend

Townsend, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01469

Townsend vs Other Cities

Townsend, MA vs Lunenburg, MA Townsend, MA vs Pepperell, MA Townsend, MA vs Fitchburg, MA Townsend, MA vs East Pepperell, MA Townsend, MA vs Greenville, NH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Townsend, MA affordable or expensive?

Townsend's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Townsend roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $340,500 and median rent is $953/month.

What is the crime rate in Townsend, MA?

Townsend's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 481.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Townsend?

Public schools in Townsend are operated by North Middlesex. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 34.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Townsend, MA a good place to live?

Townsend, MA has a population of 1,131, a median household income of $61,546, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Townsend?

Townsend averages 33.5°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches with about 75.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Townsend?

Townsend, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01469.

What is the population of Townsend?

The population of Townsend, Massachusetts is 1,131 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Townsend?

Key numbers for living in Townsend: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $340,500, median household income $61,546, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Townsend side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.