Compare towns
Ashby vs Ayer vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ayer | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,645 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.