Compare towns
Townsend vs Durham 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 kids (21% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
15,080Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Ashby 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 30% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.