Compare towns
Berkley vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Highest |
2,227Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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.