What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Dover
People
Population	18,873Highest	2,308Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	47.5±4Highest 19% above MA
	Dover 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%	20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dover and Ashland 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%	15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	83.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dover 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±$11kLowest 23% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA	$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298 39% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dover and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	97.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	37 minLowest 26% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#1 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	—
High school in town	Ashland High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.