Compare towns

Whately vs Ashburnham vs New Braintree

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).

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.

MeasureWhatelyAshburnhamNew Braintree
People
Population
1,499
6,415Highest
973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
-0.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
47.8±4.6
20% above MA
Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.6%±6Highest
MA: 19.4%
20%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
Ashburnham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44%
MA: 47.3%
41.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Ashburnham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,563±$15k
12% above MA
$118,809±$11kHighest
14% above MA
$99,500±$8kLowest
4% below MA
Ashburnham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,500±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$390,700±$34kLowest
30% below MA
$408,800±$27k
27% below MA
Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,807±$1kHighest
about the MA average
$1,484±$316
16% below MA
Ashburnham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
$6,046Highest
about the MA average
$5,508
8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±51.2
MA: 51.8%
Ashburnham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.8%
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
32 min
10% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
16%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Whately and Ashburnham 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 — #178 of 282 in MA —
School district Whately Ashburnham-Westminster Quabbin
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.