Compare towns

Townsend vs Ashby vs Uxbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

MeasureTownsendAshbyUxbridge
People
Population
9,100
3,211Lowest
14,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
50.5±3Highest
26% above MA
41.7±2.8
4% above MA
Kids under 18
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
17%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.5%±3.4
MA: 19.4%
Townsend and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.5%±4.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Ashby and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
43.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
38%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Townsend and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
$115,598±$9kLowest
11% above MA
$124,725±$7kHighest
20% above MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$390,500±$30kLowest
31% below MA
$441,100±$25kHighest
22% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
$1,200±$484Lowest
32% below MA
$1,555±$265Highest
12% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
about the MA average
$6,034Highest
about the MA average
$5,836Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
36.4%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
25.6%±5.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
27% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
37 min
26% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
17.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Ashby and Uxbridge 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 #136 of 282 in MA #200 of 282 in MA #183 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex North Middlesex Uxbridge
High school in town North Middlesex Regional None in town Uxbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.