Compare towns
Ashby vs Petersham vs Ashburnham
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 people working from home (17.8%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Petersham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,185Lowest |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Petersham 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 11% above MA |
$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| Ashburnham 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±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Petersham 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham 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 MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Petersham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Petersham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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 |
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.