Compare towns
Ashby vs Bow vs Exeter 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).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Bow | Exeter | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,335 |
16,151Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Bow and Exeter 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. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Exeter 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Exeter 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.