Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware vs Warren 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 expensive homes ($433k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Ware | Warren | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
6,369 |
5,009 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% 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±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% 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 |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Quaboag Regional | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.