Compare towns
Townsend vs Lyndeborough vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Webster | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,227 |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Townsend 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Webster 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 | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.