Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Middlesex vs Ashby vs Gardner
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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Ashby | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
1,943Lowest |
3,211 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.