Compare towns
Ashby vs Holland vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Holland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Holland | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,583Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
51.9±7.8Highest 30% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holland 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Holland 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 11% above MA |
$91,979±$12kLowest 12% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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±$30k 31% below MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend 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 32% below MA |
$1,750±$209Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Holland and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Holland 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 MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
95% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Holland 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 | #182 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Holland | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.