What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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	Charlton
People
Population	3,211Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashby and Charlton 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 MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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±$9kLowest 11% above MA	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA
	Charlton 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±$30kLowest 31% below MA	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA
	Charlton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Ashby 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	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Charlton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashby and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	None in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.