Compare towns
Ashby vs Lunenburg vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Lunenburg | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
11,902Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Newfields 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. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Lunenburg | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.