Compare towns
Ashland vs Townsend vs Bridgewater
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Townsend | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
9,100Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Ashland 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townsend and Ashland 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | North Middlesex | Newfound Area 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.