Compare towns
Ashby vs Worcester vs Townsend
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Worcester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
831Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.