Compare towns
Ashby vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Pembroke | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,438 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Townsend 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Pembroke School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
13.1 |
| 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.