Compare towns
Ashby vs Plainfield vs Lunenburg
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,314Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Ashby 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lunenburg 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±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Lunenburg 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Ashby 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lunenburg 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Plainfield 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 | — | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.