Compare towns
Ashby vs Colrain vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Ashby | Colrain | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,627Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Ashby and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$9k 11% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Colrain 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mohawk Trail | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.