Compare towns
Townsend vs Bedford vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Townsend | Bedford | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
23,746Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Bedford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Bedford 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 51% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bedford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.