Oldest house, 1912
Ashby’s story
350 years in pictures
Census counts: 751 in 1790, a low of 751 in 1790, 3,193 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1889 and 7 maps from 1887 on.
- 1676Ashby is settled
Photo: Ashby1495 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,274
2025 Census estimate · +2.6% since 2020
Typical home
$473K
+2.9% in a year
Household income
$116K
median
Median age
50.5
years
Jobs based here
337
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#60 of 282 in MA
Is Ashby a good place to live?
Ashby's standout: it has 24 miles of trail and 32% conserved land. Overall it grades A, 60th among Massachusetts's 282 graded towns. It is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 81% of U.S. towns. 32% of the land in Ashby is conserved, above both Massachusetts’ towns (19%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). On cost of living, just 5 of Massachusetts’ 324 towns do better. Ashby's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 92% of U.S. towns.
What makes Ashby stand out
Where Ashby beats most towns.
OutdoorsA+
31.6% conserved land
Biggest place to walk: Mount Watatic Reservation, 2.7 mi of trail.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Library visits per resident
Ashby13.5
Typical U.S. town3.4
Typical MA town4
Civic lifeA
3.4 times the library visits per person
than the typical Massachusetts town
IMLS Public Libraries Survey.
How Ashby grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Massachusetts), ordered by how far Ashby is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 9% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →HealthUmass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals 10 miles awayAOpen →SafetyA−Open →Jobs & income$116K median household incomeB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.8 of 20; 0.8% of households have no car; 4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History2 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life13.5 library visits per resident; 6.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ashby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ashby, and how to reach them.
PowerMassachusetts Bay Trans AuthorityEIAHIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpAshby Recycle Center & Transfer Station (ARCTS)Drop-offTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Massachusetts you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAshby Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code0143101431 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ashby.
Ashby pairs an A overall with homes cheaper than the Massachusetts norm, reports less crime than Townsend or any other graded neighbor and keeps more of its land conserved than most of Massachusetts.
HealthA
Ashby’s grade for health is an A
Within Massachusetts it is healthier than 55% of the 279 graded towns: Massachusetts sets a high bar.
30% of Ashby adults sleep under 7 hours, below both the Massachusetts town median (33%) and the median of U.S. towns (36%). 26% of adults have obesity in Ashby. Ashby beats the Massachusetts average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
89%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Ashby | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 28% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 24% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Massachusetts
8 better23 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Ashby | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.8% | 12.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.5% | 8.5% |
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals
10 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
55th
percentile among MA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB
Ashby’s schools rank ahead of 58% of Massachusetts districts
Its public schools are run by the North Middlesex school district. Its one school is below.
58%of MA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 152 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Ashby
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 91% of U.S. communities.
9risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesCold waves
12
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsA+
Ashby has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
Its 4,831 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 83% of Massachusetts towns.
24 miles of trail in 12 parks and preserves. Ashby’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Ashby Wildlife Management Area, at 910 acres.
#210for trails in MA
31.6%
conserved · 4,831 of 15,296 acres
24 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mount Watatic Reservation | 2.7 mi | 235 |
| 2. Jewell Hill | 0.7 mi | 74 |
| 3. Ashby Wildlife Management Area | 0.4 mi | 910 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyA−
Ashby’s grade for safety is an A−
Its A− tops all 4 graded towns on its borders; Townsend (A−) comes closest.
81%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Ashby1.2
Massachusetts3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Ashby6.7
Massachusetts10.4
U.S.15.5
81st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
70th
percentile among MA towns
4
violent crimes reported in 2025
22
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most working residents commute out of Ashby
Ashby has 337 jobs for its 1,380 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Ashby for work: only 7% work in town. The average trip to work in Ashby is 33 minutes. Since 2013, Ashby has added 100 jobs, to 337 in 2023.
7%work in town
| Ashby | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 6% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $116,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 18% | 18% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Ashby7%
Fitchburg9%
Leominster7%
Boston5%
Worcester5%
17 mi
median commute distance
337
jobs based in Ashby
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 45% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B−
A larger share of households own their home in Ashby than in most of Massachusetts or the rest of the country
Ashby grades A overall with a typical home of about $473K, below the Massachusetts typical value; only 21 of the 109 Massachusetts towns graded A− or better can say that.
96% of Ashby households own their home. The typical Ashby home is worth about $473,000, up 2.9% in a year, 28% below the Massachusetts typical home.
$473KZillow home value
| Ashby | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 96% | 79% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,200 a month | $1,683 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Ashby$473K
Massachusetts$655K
+2.9%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Massachusetts overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 13% of residents (24% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 48% of residents (39% statewide). Ashby has grown 2.6% since 2020, to 3,274 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 44% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 47% across Massachusetts.
50.5median age · MA 40
| Ashby | Massachusetts towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 years | 43.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 17% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 44% | 47% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 19% | 18% |
AshbyMassachusettsUnited States
Ages · share of residents
21%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school23%
Some college16%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate22%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.6 points. Across Massachusetts, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Ashby | MA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.5% | 9.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.4% | 14% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.1% | 13% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 21.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.4% | 10.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.1% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.8% | 8.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.4% | 22.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.2% | 14.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.8% | 7.5% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22% | 25.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 21.8% | 21.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,300, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Ashby
Ashby has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 81°, January nights drop to 14° and about 75 inches of snow falls in a winter.
75″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–35°
Spring34–56°
Summer57–79°
Fall39–60°
Oct 9
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 224 attractions →Mount Monadnock and 68 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Ashby. Close and well known come first.
19 mi MountainMount Monadnock
30 mi LakeWalden Pond
32 mi LakeQuabbin Reservoir
34 mi Ancient siteAmerica's Stonehenge
31 mi Theme parkCanobie Lake Park
29 mi Stadium & arenaDCU CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Walden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Quabbin Reservoir: engineerchange, CC BY 2.0 · America's Stonehenge: User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Canobie Lake Park: Alex1961, CC BY-SA 2.0 · DCU Center: Terageorge, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ashby
20pages on Ashby
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of MA districts · 1 schoolSafetyA−1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than MA on 8 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$473K typical home · up 2.9% in a yearWork & commuteB+$116K median household income · 337 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 9% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Ashby
Fitchburg State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Fitchburg6.5 mi$11,346 in-state tuitionMount Wachusett Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Gardner9.6 mi$6,160 in-state tuitionFranklin Pierce UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rindge, NH13.5 mi$46,442 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Ashby residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Ashby for work
Where Ashby’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
337jobs based in Ashby
7%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ashby
Town in Massachusetts, United States
Ashby is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,193 at the 2020 census, which makes it the least populous municipality in Middlesex County. Ashby is primarily a bedroom community, consisting almost entirely of single family homes and a limited number of businesses. Ashby is also host to a large portion of the Willard Brook State Forest, including Damon Pond, Trap Falls, and numerous miles of hiking trails.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1676
- Area
- 24 sq mi
- Elevation
- 906 ft
- ZIP code
- 01431
Ashby’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Ashby.
It grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Townsend (B+) comes closest.
AshburnhamFitchburgTownsendLunenburgAshby
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby | #60 | A | B− | A− | B | A |
| Ashburnham | #154 | B | C− | A− | B | B+ |
| Fitchburg | #264 | D | C | C | C− | C+ |
| Townsend | #119 | B+ | C+ | A− | B | A− |
| Lunenburg | #169 | B | D | B+ | B | A− |
Questions about Ashby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ashby, MA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Ashby grades A overall, better than 92% of U.S. towns and #60 of 282 in Massachusetts. It grades A for health, A− for safety and B for schools.
Is Ashby, MA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Ashby, MA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Aldrich Bowker and Lisa Anne Fletcher.