Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Rochester | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
5,837 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Rochester 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%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Rochester 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% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Rochester and Ashburnham 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 |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Rochester 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 |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Rochester 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.