Compare towns
Ashby vs Townsend vs Webster vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Townsend | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
9,100 |
17,748Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ashburnham 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.