Compare towns
Ashby vs Epping vs Fitchburg
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Fitchburg has the most renters (45.9% rent).
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 | Epping | Fitchburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,430 |
41,798Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
36.3±2Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fitchburg and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fitchburg and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$73,040±$5kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$336,400±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,222±$89 14% below U.S. |
| Epping and Fitchburg 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.9%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Fitchburg 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #249 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.