Compare towns
Townsend vs Exeter vs Ashby vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Exeter | Ashby | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
16,151Highest |
3,211Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Freetown 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Freetown 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.