Compare towns
Ashby vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
897Lowest |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham 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±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Jackson 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. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Jackson School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.