Compare towns
Mason vs Ashby vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Mason | Ashby | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
3,211Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.