What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.

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

Measure	Whately	Ashby
People
Population	1,499Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA
	Ashby and Whately 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%	17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashby and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Whately and Ashby 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%	43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashby and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA
	Whately and Ashby 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	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA
	Whately and Ashby 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	$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA
	Ashby and Whately 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	$6,034Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	36.4%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashby and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately 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	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Whately	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.