Compare towns
Berkley vs Dummerston 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
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Berkley | Dummerston | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Highest |
2,090Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 93% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Ashburnham 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.