Compare towns
Ashby vs Salem vs Townsend
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Salem | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
30,964Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Salem 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Salem School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.