What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Kensington	Ashby
People
Population	2,009Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
	Ashby and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Kensington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Kensington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Kensington and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,637Highest 209% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kensington 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Kensington 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.