Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Colebrook vs Southampton
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 people working from home (16%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
1,494Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Southampton 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% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Southampton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$452,300±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashburnham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,470Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Colebrook 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton 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 | — | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Colebrook School District | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.