Compare towns

Ashby vs Townsend vs Warwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).

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.

MeasureAshbyTownsendWarwick
People
Population
3,211
9,100Highest
776Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
0%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.5±3
26% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
51.4±7.3Highest
29% above MA
Warwick 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
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±4.3
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.2%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Warwick and Ashby 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
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
40.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Townsend 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
11% above MA
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$93,333±$22kLowest
10% below MA
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
31% below MA
$433,200±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$349,400±$34kLowest
38% below MA
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
32% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
$1,367±$163
22% below MA
Townsend and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,034Highest
about the MA average
$6,031
about the MA average
$4,380Lowest
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±57.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Townsend 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
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
13% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
40 minHighest
37% above MA
Work from home
17.8%±5.8
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.4%±6.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
Warwick 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 Warwick
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

MA 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.