What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Lanesborough has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Lanesborough
People
Population	3,211Highest	3,028Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA	51.2±4.4Highest 28% above MA
	Lanesborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lanesborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.2%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lanesborough 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%	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashby and Lanesborough 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 11% above MA	$86,219±$19kLowest 17% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA	$299,400±$36kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA	$1,349±$199Highest 23% below MA
	Lanesborough and Ashby 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	$5,007Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±41.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lanesborough 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 MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	95%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	6.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#200 of 282 in MA	#75 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Mount Greylock
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.