Compare towns
Ashby vs Ripton vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lunenburg has the most expensive homes ($464k 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 | Ripton | Townsend | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
508Lowest |
9,100 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 17% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Townsend 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,401Highest 105% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.