Compare towns
Berkley vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Townsend | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829 |
9,100Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Berkley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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 39% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Berkley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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 |
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.