Compare towns
Ashland vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 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 | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
25,237Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Grafton and Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below 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 |
$7,117Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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 MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Dedham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Dedham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.