Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Williamsburg 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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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.

MeasureAshburnhamWilliamsburgAshby
People
Population
6,415Highest
2,694Lowest
3,211
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
50±2.4
25% above MA
50.5±3Highest
26% above MA
Ashby and Williamsburg 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%
18.6%±4
MA: 19.4%
17%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ashburnham and Williamsburg 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%
22.7%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.5%±4.3
MA: 17.9%
Williamsburg 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%
MA: 47.3%
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
43.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg 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±$11kHighest
14% above MA
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
$115,598±$9k
11% above MA
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±$34k
30% below MA
$403,100±$37kHighest
28% below MA
$390,500±$30kLowest
31% below MA
Williamsburg and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,807±$1kHighest
about the MA average
$1,420±$228
19% below MA
$1,200±$484Lowest
32% below MA
Ashburnham and Williamsburg 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
$5,761Lowest
4% below MA
$6,034
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28
MA: 51.8%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ashburnham and Williamsburg 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%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
2.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
25 minLowest
13% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
16%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.8%±5.8
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg 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 — #200 of 282 in MA
School district Ashburnham-Westminster Williamsburg North Middlesex
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.