Compare towns
Ashby vs Millis vs Townsend
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Millis | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,888 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Ashby and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Millis and Townsend 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis 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 MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Millis | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.