Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Pepperell vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Pepperell | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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 |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.