Compare towns
Ashby vs Ira vs Rupert
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 highest household income ($116k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Ira | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
381Lowest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Ashby 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. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashby and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert 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 | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.