Compare towns
Ashby vs Brookline vs Lunenburg vs Townsend
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).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Brookline | Lunenburg | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,736 |
11,902Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Lunenburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.