Compare towns
Ashland vs Danvers vs Foxborough
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% 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 | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
28,098Highest |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Foxborough 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%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough 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% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashland and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Ashland and Danvers 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 |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above 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 |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above 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 |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Foxborough 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% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Danvers 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 | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.8 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.