Compare towns
Ashby vs Springfield 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 most people working from home (17.8%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
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 | Springfield | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,122Lowest |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Ashby 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Springfield 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ashby 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Springfield 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school 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.