Compare towns
Dover vs Ashby vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Dover | Ashby | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
3,211Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | North Middlesex | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.