Compare towns
Berkley vs Dunstable vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Dunstable | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Highest |
3,408Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Berkley and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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 MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Dunstable and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Groton-Dunstable | 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 |
MA 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.