Compare towns
Townsend vs Upton vs Stratham 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stratham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
8,189 |
7,754 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% 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. |
41.6±4.9 7% 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Stratham 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±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Upton and Stratham 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. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% 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%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Upton 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% |
92.6% 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. |
1986Highest 6 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. |
27 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% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.