Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ashby vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Ashby | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,211Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.