Compare towns
Ashby vs Ripton vs Fitchburg
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fitchburg has the most renters (45.9% rent).
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 | Ripton | Fitchburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
508Lowest |
41,798Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
36.3±2Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fitchburg 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$73,040±$5kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$336,400±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,222±$89Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Fitchburg and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.9%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Fitchburg 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ripton 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 | — | #249 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.