Compare towns
Townsend vs Beverly vs Ashby
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).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Beverly | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
42,665Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Beverly 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% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Beverly 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% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Townsend and Ashby 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 |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Beverly and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Beverly | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.