Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Upton vs Webster 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 most homeowners (96%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Webster 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 | Upton | Webster | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
8,189 |
17,748Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ashburnham 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Webster 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.