What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Webster 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Webster
People
Population	3,211Highest	2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 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%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Ashby 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%	19.4%±1.3Lowest 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%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average
	Ashby and Webster 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.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Ashby 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.	$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest 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	—
School district	North Middlesex	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.