What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Reading
People
Population	1,893Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Reading 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%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Reading and Ashfield 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	—	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	—
High school 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.