Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Williamsburg vs Southampton

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%).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasureAshburnhamWilliamsburgSouthampton
People
Population
6,415Highest
2,694Lowest
6,230
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
43.4±3.5
9% above MA
Kids under 18
22.6%±6Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±4
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
Williamsburg 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%
MA: 47.3%
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±2.2Lowest
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±$11k
14% above MA
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
$123,125±$23kHighest
18% above MA
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±$34kLowest
30% below MA
$403,100±$37k
28% below MA
$452,300±$25kHighest
20% below MA
Southampton and Williamsburg 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±$228Lowest
19% 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
$5,761
4% below MA
$5,470Lowest
9% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28
MA: 51.8%
26.2%±18.4Lowest
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%
90.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
10% above MA
25 min
13% below MA
22 minLowest
23% below MA
Work from home
16%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.2%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg 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 — #205 of 282 in MA
School district Ashburnham-Westminster Williamsburg Southampton
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.