Compare towns
Rowley vs Ashburnham vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Newbury has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Ashburnham | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
6,415 |
6,777Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
55.1±4.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Newbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA |
| Newbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$840,600±$40kHighest 50% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,806±$1k about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,661 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±26.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newbury and Ashburnham 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.