What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Ashby
People
Population	1,169Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.
	Ashby and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfound Area School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.