Compare towns
Ashby vs Barnstead vs Ashburnham
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 the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
4,994 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Ashburnham 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 43% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Barnstead 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Barnstead School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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 |
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.