Compare towns
Ashland vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Douglas | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
9,207Lowest |
18,615 |
| 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 |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Douglas and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Foxborough 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Ashland and Foxborough 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 |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Douglas | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Douglas High School | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.