Compare towns
Ashby vs Brimfield vs Plympton
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).
Brimfield has the most renters (12.5% rent).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
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 | Brimfield | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
3,705Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Ashby and Plympton 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%±6 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Brimfield 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%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Brimfield and Plympton 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 |
$111,250±$22kLowest 7% above MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton 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 31% below MA |
$389,100±$27kLowest 31% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$886±$365 50% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% 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 | $6,034 about the MA average |
$5,128Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield and Plympton 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% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brimfield | Plympton |
| 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 |
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.