Compare towns
Ashby vs Middlesex vs Ashburnham 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 the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Ashburnham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,943Lowest |
6,415 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashburnham 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.