Compare towns
Ashby vs Rye vs Ashburnham
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 housing (typical home built 1970).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Rye | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,611 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham 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 43% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ashburnham 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.