Compare towns
Ashby vs Pepperell vs Rye
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 most affordable homes ($391k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Pepperell | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
11,663Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ashby 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Rye 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Ashby 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 43% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Rye 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.