Compare towns
Unity vs Ashby vs Newport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Newport has the most renters (33.1% rent).
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 | Unity | Ashby | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
3,211 |
6,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
46.9±5.2Lowest 21% 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% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Newport 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% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$80,341±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$225,900±$17kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,365±$305 3% below U.S. |
| Unity and Newport 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. |
$5,649 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Newport 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 | #119 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | North Middlesex | Newport School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newport Middle High School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.