Compare towns
Surry vs Ashby vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Surry | Ashby | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
3,211Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 105% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason School District |
| High school 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.