Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
616Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Plainfield and Ashby 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% 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±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.