Town · Massachusetts
Townsend, Massachusetts
Townsend, town, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Townsend had 9,143 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,127 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,100 (±19). GEOID 2501770360.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,143
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,127 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,100 ±19
Median household income
$121,528
±$22,520 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$433,200
±$22,070 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,469
±$313 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Townsend and what county is it in?
Townsend is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 32.7 square miles of land, 279 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Townsend: Townsend (CDP, 1,213 in 2020).
Townsend is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Townsend, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,143 people lived in Townsend on July 1, 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 9,127 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,100 (±19).
| Measure | Townsend | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,100±19 | 1,638,365 | −373 |
| Households | 3,339±149 | 634,215 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.72±0.12 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,404±165 | 664,267 | −282 |
Townsend's population since 2000
From 9,198 in 2000 to 9,143 in 2025: down 0.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Townsend as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Townsend?
The median resident of Townsend is 40.9 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.5%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Townsend | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.0%±2.4 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.1%±1.9 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 48.2%±2.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.5%±2.1 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.6%±4.0 pts | 65.1% | −7.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±1.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2%±3.1 pts | 13.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9%±1.7 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.1%±1.6 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.2%±2.8 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5%±1.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.2%±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1%±1.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.2%±1.6 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.5%±5.3 pts | 59.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.2%±2.6 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.9%±3.2 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Townsend earn?
Half of Townsend's 3,339 households earn less than $121,528 a year (±$22,520), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $112,253 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Townsend | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $121,528±$22,520 | $130,847 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $128,065±$9,040 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,078±$3,456 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.9%±3.1 pts | 7.7% | +5.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.3%±7.5 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.9%±2.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.2%±0.8 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.3%±1.6 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Townsend?
Owners occupy 82.0% of Townsend's occupied homes and renters 18.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $433,200 by its owner (±$22,070). The median renter pays $1,469 a month including utilities, and 35.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Townsend | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $433,200±$22,070 | $727,800 | +$74,822 |
| Median gross rent | $1,469±$313 | $2,201 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.6%±14.5 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,517±$205 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.0%±3.8 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 18.0%±3.8 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 3,404±165 | 664,267 | −282 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2%±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±6.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.8%±4.1 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.6%±3.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.5%±4.1 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.4%±1.4 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Townsend building?
Builders took permits for 20 new housing units in Townsend in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 2.2 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Townsend work and get to work?
79.6% of Townsend's workers drive alone and 10.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 37.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.2%.
| Measure | Townsend | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.8%±4.2 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2%±2.8 pts | 4.4% | +3.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.6%±4.0 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.0%±2.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7%±1.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.1%±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.5%±2.8 pts | 24.7% | +3.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 37.1 min±2.3 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Townsend?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Townsend (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $97,042 (Tract 3011.01) to $126,549 (Tract 3011.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3011.02Middlesex County | 5,085 | $126,549 |
| Tract 3011.01Middlesex County | 4,015 | $97,042 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Townsend) · Census block assignment files
How does Townsend compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Townsend is the 1,354th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 114th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Townsend ranks 175th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 114th | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 220th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 371st | 461 |
| Median household income | 175th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 352nd | 460 |
| Median home value | 315th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 236th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 99th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 341st | 459 |
| Median age | 369th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 206th | 460 |
| Work from home | 367th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 29th | 459 |
Townsend's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Townsend with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Townsend?
11 of the 57 figures for Townsend on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Townsend are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.