Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ashburnham vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Williamsburg | Ashburnham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
6,415Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Ashburnham-Westminster | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.