Town · Massachusetts
Ashby, Massachusetts
Ashby, town, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Ashby had 3,274 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,193 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,211 (±17). GEOID 2501701955.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,274
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,193 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,211 ±17
Median household income
$115,598
±$9,187 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$390,500
±$29,626 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,200
±$484 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Ashby and what county is it in?
Ashby is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 23.7 square miles of land, 135 residents per square mile in 2020.
Ashby is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Ashby is the same area as Census Tract 3001 of Middlesex County: the tract's figures are Ashby's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ashby, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,274 people lived in Ashby on July 1, 2025, up 2.6% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 3,193 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,211 (±17).
| Measure | Ashby | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,211±17 | 1,638,365 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,261±96 | 634,215 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.54±0.19 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,321±94 | 664,267 | no clear change |
Ashby's population since 2000
From 2,845 in 2000 to 3,274 in 2025: up 15.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ashby as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ashby?
The median resident of Ashby is 50.5 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 21.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.7%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ashby | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5±3.0 | 38.9 | +4.6 |
| Under 18 years | 17.0%±3.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.5%±3.9 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 49.1%±2.7 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.7%±2.5 pts | 9.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.5%±3.1 pts | 65.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 13.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±1.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9%±2.2 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.1%±2.6 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.4%±1.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.8%±2.8 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.3%±1.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.2%±3.7 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.7%±5.6 pts | 59.5% | +10.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.8%±5.4 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.8%±3.0 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ashby earn?
Half of Ashby's 1,261 households earn less than $115,598 a year (±$9,187), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $120,556 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 2.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ashby | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $115,598±$9,187 | $130,847 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $146,173±$16,409 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,840±$7,241 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.6%±1.5 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.0%±4.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.0%±2.2 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.7%±1.5 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.1%±2.1 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ashby?
Owners occupy 95.5% of Ashby's occupied homes and renters 4.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $390,500 by its owner (±$29,626). The median renter pays $1,200 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Ashby | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $390,500±$29,626 | $727,800 | +$60,797 |
| Median gross rent | $1,200±$484 | $2,201 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 13.6%±19.4 pts | 37.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,162±$157 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 95.5%±2.4 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 4.5%±2.4 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 1,321±94 | 664,267 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±44.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 95.6%±2.3 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±3.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5%±2.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 26.1%±6.0 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8%±0.8 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ashby building?
Builders took permits for 7 new housing units in Ashby in 2025 (7 in single-family houses), 2.1 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ashby work and get to work?
68.8% of Ashby's workers drive alone and 17.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | Ashby | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.8%±5.1 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5%±2.4 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 68.8%±7.3 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8%±4.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 3.7%±2.4 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.8%±5.9 pts | 24.7% | +11.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.9 min±3.3 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Ashby?
1 census tract lies mostly in Ashby (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3001Middlesex County | 3,211 | $115,598 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ashby) · Census block assignment files
How does Ashby compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ashby is the 3,336th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 191st-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Ashby ranks 204th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 191st | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 98th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 413th | 461 |
| Median household income | 204th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 206th | 460 |
| Median home value | 364th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 313th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 323rd | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 261st | 459 |
| Median age | 109th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 20th | 460 |
| Work from home | 227th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 125th | 459 |
Ashby's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Ashby with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Ashby?
16 of the 57 figures for Ashby on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ashby are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.