Compare towns
Townsend vs Milford vs Exeter 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 highest household income ($122k).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Milford | Exeter | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
16,337Highest |
16,151 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Townsend 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 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% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby 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. |
$398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Milford 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. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs 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 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Milford High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.