Compare towns
Ashland vs Brookline 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Ashland | Brookline | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
5,736 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #23 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland School District | Brookline School District | 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 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.