Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ashburnham vs Whately
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).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694 |
6,415Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Whately 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% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest 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%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Williamsburg 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% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above 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 | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Whately 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 | Williamsburg | Ashburnham-Westminster | Whately |
| 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.