Compare towns
Ashby vs Townsend vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Windham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
9,100 |
16,038Highest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Ashburnham 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Ashburnham 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Windham and Ashburnham 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% 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. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 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 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.