Compare towns
Ashland vs Dedham vs Dedham vs Framingham
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%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
25,237 |
25,237 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Dedham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Dedham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.