Compare towns
Townsend vs Whitingham vs Ashby vs Pepperell
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 kids (21% under 18).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Whitingham | Ashby | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,368Lowest |
3,211 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.