Compare towns
Ashby vs Plympton vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Plympton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,935Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Ashby and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Ware 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Plympton 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 |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Plympton 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 31% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Ashby and Ware 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 |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Plympton 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% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Ashby 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Plympton | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.