Compare towns
Ashland vs Bourne vs Cordaville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
Cordaville has the most kids (29.3% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Bourne | Cordaville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
20,323Highest |
2,989Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
39.2±3.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.3%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.1%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$165,375±$41kHighest 59% above MA |
| Cordaville and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$765,900±$66kHighest 36% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,844±$1k 5% above MA |
| Ashland and Cordaville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±68.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
93.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.1%±10.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cordaville and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashland | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.