Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Thompson vs Southampton
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 people working from home (16%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415 |
9,337Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton 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% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Southampton 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% |
41.1% 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% |
4.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton 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 47% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Southampton 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 17% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$452,300±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashburnham and Thompson 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. |
$5,470 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest 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% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson 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 | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Thompson School District | Southampton |
| 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.