What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	Marion
People
Population	1,893Lowest	5,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	53.8±4Lowest 35% above MA
	Ashfield and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marion and Ashfield 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%	27.3%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashfield and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$1,176±$516Highest 33% below MA
	Marion and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA	$5,766Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion and Ashfield 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%	9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Marion 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	—	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	Marion
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.