Compare towns
Ashby vs Epping vs Townsend vs Lunenburg
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 the most people working from home (24%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Townsend | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,430 |
9,100 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| 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±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Epping 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±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Epping 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | North Middlesex | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | North Middlesex Regional | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.