Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Oakham vs Westhampton 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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Oakham | Westhampton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
1,639 |
1,552Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Westhampton 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham 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 14% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| 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±$34k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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 |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Westhampton 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.