Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Framingham 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 58% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Ashland 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Exeter High School | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.