Compare towns
Townsend vs Bow vs Brookline 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 most renters (18% rent).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Bow | Brookline | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
8,335 |
5,736 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Bow 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Bow 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Brookline School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.