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Buying a home in Townsend, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Townsend is worth about $344,800, 39% below the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 4% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,574 a year in property taxes, about 1.33% of their home's value, higher than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $58,571 a year, so the median home costs 5.9 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 53% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Townsend at a glance

Townsend Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $344,800 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $4,574 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.33% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $58,571 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 53% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 50% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,375 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.1% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $918 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.5% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1956 1964 1980
Vacant homes 7.6% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 987 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Townsend

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Townsend home of $344,800 with 20% down costs about $2,381 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,956, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $102,060 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 49% of the median Townsend household income of $58,571; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $198,000.

The median rent here is $918 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,463 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$68,960
Loan amount$275,840
Principal and interest$1,856
Property taxes (1.33% a year)$382
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$144
PMI$0
Total per month$2,381

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$12,068
Loan amount$338,555
Principal and interest$2,277
Property taxes (1.33% a year)$382
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$144
FHA mortgage insurance$152
Total per month$2,956

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Questions about home buying in Townsend

What is the median home value in Townsend?

About $344,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Townsend?

Homeowners pay a median $4,574 a year, which is about 1.33% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Townsend?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,381 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $102,060 a year.

More about Townsend

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data