Compare towns
Springfield vs Ashby vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Ashby | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
3,211Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Springfield 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 | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.