Compare towns
Ashby vs Gorham vs Windham 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).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Gorham | Windham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Gorham 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. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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.