Compare towns
Ashland vs Hull vs Framingham
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%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
10,138Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Ashland and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Hull 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 39% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Framingham 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Hull | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Hull High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
8.8Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.