Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Colrain vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Colrain | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
1,627Lowest |
6,829Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Colrain and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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 14% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley 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 30% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Ashburnham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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 | — | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Mohawk Trail | Berkley |
| 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 |
MA 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.