What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).

Lincoln has the shortest commute (30 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	Lincoln
People
Population	3,211Highest	1,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.	45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Ashby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln 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 U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Lincoln 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 43% above U.S.	$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Ashby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.	$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Ashby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.	$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Ashby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	Lincoln Town School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.