Compare towns
Townsend vs Everett vs Ashby vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Everett | Ashby | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
50,045Highest |
3,211Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Everett | North Middlesex | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.