Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Ashby
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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above 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. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.