Compare towns
Ashby vs Berlin 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%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Lanesborough has the most kids (19% 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 | Berlin | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
2,880Lowest |
3,028 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.2±4.4Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lanesborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lanesborough and Ashby 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Lanesborough 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$86,219±$19kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$299,400±$36k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,007 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lanesborough and Berlin 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Greylock |
| 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.