Compare towns
Ashby vs Ogunquit 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 housing (typical home built 1970).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Ashburnham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,379Lowest |
6,415 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% 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±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% 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% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 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 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | 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 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.