Compare towns
Townsend vs Salem vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
44,795Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Salem 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 MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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 17% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Salem and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Salem | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.