Compare towns
Townsend vs Nottingham 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).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Nottingham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
5,357 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Nottingham 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% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham 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. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Nottingham and Townsend 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. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Nottingham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | 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 |
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.