Compare towns
Ashby vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Ashburnham
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).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Lawrence | Everett | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Ashburnham 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ashburnham 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham 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 |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Everett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lawrence | Everett | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.