Compare towns
Ashby vs Townsend vs Tunbridge
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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Townsend | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
9,100Highest |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3 10% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Tunbridge 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Tunbridge and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Tunbridge 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Tunbridge 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% 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±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school 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 |
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.