Compare towns
Ashby vs Marion vs Ashburnham
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 affordable homes ($391k median).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Marion | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,310 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Marion 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% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Ashburnham 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 11% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Marion and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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 |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Marion 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Marion | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.