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Townsend, MA

Census-designated place in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population

987

Land area

1.7sq mi

People per sq mi

583

ZIP codes

0

Townsend and its ZIP codes

Full map

Townsend at a glance

  • Townsend is 35% less dense than Massachusetts as a whole.
  • The median household income is $58,571, 44% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $344,800 (39% below Massachusetts) and median rent is $918 a month.

Local data for Townsend, MA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Townsend, MA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$58,571

Poverty rate

16.0%

Median home value

$344,800

Median rent

$918/mo

Homeownership

53.0%

Bachelor's or higher

31.3%

Median age

44.1

Average commute

43.9 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Italian Americans (152), French Americans (146), Irish Americans (61).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Middlesex County. PPP loans are for Townsend.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$118,479

903,942 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$112,011

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$27.4B

FY 2026, $16,790 per person

Middlesex County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Townsend, MA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone55.2%
  • Carpooled10.2%
  • Public transit3.7%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other5.3%
  • Worked from home25.5%

Average one-way commute: 43.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Townsend, MA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

1,840

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

4,000

1.0% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

81° / 15°F

49.6 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Townsend, MA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

26.7%

U.S. 33.3% -6.6 pts

Diabetes

10.1%

U.S. 12.1% -2.0 pts

Smoking

12.4%

U.S. 12.8% about the same

Uninsured (18-64)

4.1%

U.S. 11.1% -7.0 pts

Cities near Townsend

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
LunenburgCensus-designated place5.5 mi3.8
PepperellCensus-designated place5.7 mi2.1
East PepperellCensus-designated place7.3 mi1.4
FitchburgCity8 mi27.8
GrotonCensus-designated place8.1 mi1.7
Greenville, NHCensus-designated place9 mi3.4
ShirleyCensus-designated place9.2 mi1.3
AyerCensus-designated place9.6 mi1.3
DevensCensus-designated place9.6 mi6.8
LeominsterCity10 mi28.8
Milford, NHCensus-designated place12 mi5.7
Wilton, NHCensus-designated place12 mi2.1
South AshburnhamCensus-designated place12 mi3
Nashua, NHCity13 mi30.8
Amherst, NHCensus-designated place14 mi0.7
Littleton CommonCensus-designated place15 mi3.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Townsend, MA in?
Townsend is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
What is the population of Townsend, MA?
About 987 people live in Townsend, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Townsend?
Nearby places include Lunenburg (5.5 mi), Pepperell (5.7 mi), East Pepperell (7.3 mi), Fitchburg (8 mi), Groton (8.1 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023