What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).

Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k 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	Ashfield	Hull
People
Population	1,893Lowest	10,138Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	56.1±1.8Lowest 40% above MA
	Ashfield and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ashfield and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	26.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hull and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA	$6,089Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Hull 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	—	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	Hull
High school in town	None in town	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.8
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.