Compare towns
Ashby vs Dedham vs Lanesborough
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Lanesborough has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dedham | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
25,237Highest |
3,028Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
51.2±4.4Highest 28% above MA |
| Lanesborough and Ashby 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lanesborough and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lanesborough and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$86,219±$19kLowest 17% below MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$299,400±$36kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,349±$199 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,007Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±41.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Lanesborough 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Dedham | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.