Compare towns
Ashby vs Townsend vs Webster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
9,100Highest |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest 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%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Webster 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| 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 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.