Compare towns
Ashby vs Reading vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Reading | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
25,612Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Reading and Townsend 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Reading | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.