Compare towns
Ashby vs Rye 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 most affordable homes ($391k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,611 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% 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% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lunenburg 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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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. |
$6,401 105% 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% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Rye School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.