Compare towns
Townsend vs Mapleton vs East Bridgewater 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Mapleton | East Bridgewater | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,884Lowest |
14,456Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±2.2 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and East Bridgewater 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$133,853±$9kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| East Bridgewater 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$510,200±$32kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,981±$671Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| East Bridgewater 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,522Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Bridgewater 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and East Bridgewater 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 | — | #204 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | East Bridgewater | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
— |
| 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.