Compare towns
Ashby vs Hampton vs Townsend vs Ashburnham
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 housing (typical home built 1970).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Townsend | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
16,426Highest |
9,100 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% 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% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashburnham 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.