Compare towns
Ashby vs Sheldon vs Townsend 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 population (median age 50.5).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Sheldon | Townsend | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,267Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Ashburnham 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashburnham 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.