What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Ashby
People
Population	1,375Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Unity and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Unity and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Unity 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Unity School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.