What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k 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	Rumney	Ashby
People
Population	1,458Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.
	Ashby and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Rumney 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	Rumney 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.