Compare towns
Ashland vs Hadley 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%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% 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 | Hadley | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
5,306Lowest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Hadley and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough and Ashland 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Ashland and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,843±$70 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Hadley | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Hopkins Academy | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
7.3Lowest |
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.