Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Ashby
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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Douglas | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.