Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Ashburnham | Castleton | Randolph | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
4,453 |
4,843 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.