Compare towns
Townsend vs Upton vs Newfields 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Upton | Newfields | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
8,189 |
2,023Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.