Compare towns
Ashby vs Dummerston vs Holbrook
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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Dummerston | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,090Lowest |
11,380Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Ashby 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Holbrook 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±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Ashby 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Holbrook |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.