Compare towns
Ashfield vs Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k 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.
| Measure | Ashfield | Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest 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 |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest 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% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above 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% |
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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest 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 |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.