Compare towns
Ashland vs Canton vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Ashland | Canton | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
24,748Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gray and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Canton 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 58% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Canton 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 84% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ashland | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Canton High | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.1 |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.