Compare towns
Ashby vs Lancaster vs Lunenburg
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,606 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lunenburg 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±$9k 11% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Lancaster 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±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Nashoba | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.