Compare towns
Ashby vs Augusta vs Lanesborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Lanesborough has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Ashby | Augusta | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
19,077Highest |
3,028Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±4.4Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lanesborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lanesborough and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lanesborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$86,219±$19k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$299,400±$36k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,349±$199Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Lanesborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,007 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lanesborough and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Augusta 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #119 of 133 in ME | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.