Compare towns
Alstead 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Ashby | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,211 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$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 | $271,600±$37kLowest 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 | — | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Alstead 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 History | 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.