Compare towns
Ashby vs Middlesex vs Calais
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Calais 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. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Ashby 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.