What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Brimfield has the most kids (21.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Brimfield
People
Population	3,211Lowest	3,705Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA	43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brimfield 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 MA: 17.9%	22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brimfield 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 MA: 47.3%	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brimfield 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 11% above MA	$111,250±$22kLowest 7% above MA
	Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA	$389,100±$27kLowest 31% below MA
	Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA	$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA
	Ashby and Brimfield 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	$5,128Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brimfield and Ashby 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%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashby and Brimfield 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	#108 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Brimfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.