What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Rupert	Ashby
People
Population	676Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Rupert and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,200±$484 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashby and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert 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	—	North Middlesex
High school 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.