What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Madbury	Ashby
People
Population	2,203Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Madbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Madbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Madbury and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Madbury 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	Oyster River Coop School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.