Compare towns
Ashby vs Lyndeborough vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,616Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough 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±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.