Compare towns
Acworth vs Ashby vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acworth has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acworth | Ashby | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 851Lowest |
3,211 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.5 22% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.9%±16.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Acworth and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acworth and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,917±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,000±$34kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$291 4% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,695Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.