Compare towns
Ashby vs Lee 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 most homeowners (95.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,719 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
| Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Lunenburg 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Ashby and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Lee 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Lunenburg 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lee | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.