Compare towns
Ashland vs Canton vs Hooksett vs Framingham
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 expensive homes ($711k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
24,748 |
15,057Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Ashland 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hooksett School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Canton High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.1 |
— | 12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.