Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Ware vs Ashby vs Berkley
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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Ware | Ashby | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415 |
10,048Highest |
3,211Lowest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Ashby and Berkley 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
— |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ware | North Middlesex | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.