Compare towns
Townsend vs Newfields vs Bow 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Newfields | Bow | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
2,023Lowest |
8,335 |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Bow 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Bow 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Newfields School District | Bow School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.