Compare towns
Ashby vs Lyndeborough vs Mason
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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Lyndeborough | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,616 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough and Ashby 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. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.