What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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	Wellfleet
People
Population	1,893Lowest	4,404Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	58.4±4.1Lowest 46% above MA
	Ashfield and Wellfleet 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%	14.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wellfleet 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	$117,938±$27kHighest 13% above MA
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$1,563±$597Highest 11% below MA
	Wellfleet and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Highest 13% below MA	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5% MA: 62.5%	85.5% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Wellfleet
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.