Compare towns
Danby vs Ashby vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most renters (10.7% rent).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Danby | Ashby | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
3,211Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danby and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Washington 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | North Middlesex | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.