What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 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	Seabrook	Ashby
People
Population	8,427Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Seabrook and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,500±$40kHighest 33% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Seabrook and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Seabrook and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,785Lowest 85% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Seabrook and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Seabrook 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	#114 of 120 in NH	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Seabrook School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.