Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
9,337Highest |
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±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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 47% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.