What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

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	Chichester	Ashby
People
Population	2,745Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±3.3Lowest 11% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chichester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chichester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,297±$13kLowest 35% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Chichester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,189Highest 130% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chichester and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chichester and Ashby 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	#75 of 120 in NH	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Chichester 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.