Compare towns
Ashland vs Danvers vs Grafton
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%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Danvers | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
28,098Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton 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 |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Danvers and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Ashland and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Grafton 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| 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.