Compare towns
Rye vs Ashby vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Rye | Ashby | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
3,211Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Rye and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rye School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| 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.